Arteta: Champions League Exit Does Not Spell the End for Arsenal's Season
Following a disheartening exit from the UEFA Champions League, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's head coach, shared an optimistic view stating that there is still something "beautiful" left to fight for in the remaining weeks of the season as they compete for the Premier League title.
Arsenal's journey in Europe's premier club competition concluded with a 1-0 defeat to German powerhouse Bayern Munich. Additionally, the London club was also knocked out of two domestic cup competitions. However, Arteta’s North London outfit remains in the hunt for the Premier League title, currently sitting in second place tied on points with third place Liverpool at 71, and only two points behind the frontrunners, Manchester City, the defending champions.
With Manchester City participating in the FA Cup next weekend, Arsenal has a chance to climb back to the top of the standings should they succeed against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium this coming Saturday.
Arteta told reporters last night, "What the players need now is for us to stand by them, to support and love them because come Saturday, we have a very, very big game ahead of us.
"As of now, we are competing for the Premier League title and I truly want that. We now have to show that we can turn things around."
The Spanish coach added, "There is (pain), and it will undoubtedly linger tonight. But I assure you, by tomorrow, our focus will be entirely on facing Wolverhampton, and the team's morale will be at its peak. What we still have to fight for is beautiful."
This marked Arsenal's first Champions League campaign since 2017 and their first quarter-final appearance since 2010. Arteta commented on the fine margins that exist between teams at this stage of the competition.
Guardiola remarked, "Sometimes these margins come from different aspects that we may not possess yet. We have to learn. When you look at history, you'll realize that all teams need seven, eight, or maybe ten years to reach a certain level."