The 22 years in which Arsene Wenger was in front of the Arsenal They radically changed the culture of a club that twice put them in the semi-finals of the Champions (2006 and 2009. A milestone that Mikel Arteta It has only taken him six seasons to replicate to sculpt his face in the Monte Rushmore of the ‘gunner’ entity.
“Tomorrow we have the opportunity to get into another semifinals. We have overcome obstacles that have been here for 140 years. The team is doing something incredible because it has never been achieved before,” he said. Mikel Arteta in the run-up to the second leg against Sporting CP which led to qualification for the semi-finals to face the Atlético de Madrid. “We are going to the next step with confidence. We have more ambition than anyone,” he stressed.
Wenger can continue to boast that, to date, he is the only coach who has put the Arsenal in a final of Champions. In favor of ArtetaHowever, there is the fact of having achieved these two semifinals consecutively in the 140 years that the club has had. A fact that clearly shows where it has settled an entity that, not long ago, had lost its way. Now, with Mikelsome bases and a club culture once again exist.
It is the first time in our history, in 140 years, that we are part of those four teams consecutively and that is something very special
“It is a transcendental moment. It is the first time in our history, in 140 years, that we are part of those four teams consecutively and that is something very special,” he claimed. Mikel Arteta “You have to earn it. You have to work hard to get it.” It is no wonder, since its balance in Champions It is 24 wins, six draws and six losses in 36 games. Records only surpassed by Flick, Kompany y Heynckes.
It is now practically taken for granted that the Arsenal must reach the month of April with the possibility of being able to win a double… when it has been more than 20 years without conquering the Premier and has never won Champions. Now, although the level of demand has increased considerably, the fans do not forget that Arteta picked up a Arsenal who was 11th in the League and did not compete in Champions League from 16-17. Edition in which the Atlético de Madrid He played his last semi-finals.
Arsenal 0-0 Sporting de Portugal Summary Champions League
“I am especially happy for our fans because they stood behind the team today and we are going to offer them two more magical nights,” he acknowledged. Arteta after having eliminated a Sporting CP who sold his skin dearly and, above all, increased the feeling that this Arsenal It is not the unbeatable team that swept those from the Cholo in October and went on to go eight games without conceding a goal in all competitions.
Ward of Wenger and disciple of Guardiola, Arteta has been applying the maxim that “defense wins championships” for some time and, until now, they have emerged as the team with the fewest goals conceded (5), the least xG conceded (8.57), the most clean sheets (8), the fewest clear chances allowed (14) and the fewest shots on goal conceded (33) of this Champions. Now, weighed down by the declines in Odegaard or Sakait is Arsenal suffers from a worrying lack of creativity, fluidity and punch. Above all, projecting adverse scenarios.
In many ways, Cholo and I are closer than it seems
“In many respects, the Cholo and I are closer than it seems,” he admitted to MARK before the duel in the league phase against Atlético de Madrid and Mikel Arteta who, depending on himself to win the Premier and having returned to the semis of Championswas responsible for reducing the climate of catastrophism that had been surrounding a team that has lost the same games in the last five as in the previous 49.
“I wish we were making the documentary of the Arsenal this season and you could film the last 48 hours. If we watched the series, we would wonder where the Arsenal. We would all say that at the bottom of the table. What are we talking about, please?”, ironically said a Mikel Arteta who, yes, recognized that “we are not perfect and we need to improve.”
There are not a few teams that would like to be ‘as bad’ as this one Arsenalwhich on Sunday has a final ahead of it Premier before him City…with the duel against him Atlético de Madrid in ‘sowing’ of Champions on the horizon. The position is unbeatable. But they must reverse as soon as possible the worrying feelings transmitted since the defeat in the final of the Carabao if they don’t want to ruin all the work done. It is time to transcend.
