Mikel Arteta makes pointed Champions League remark after Arsenal risk pays off

13 December 2023 , 02:00

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Mikel Arteta makes pointed Champions League remark after Arsenal risk pays off

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes his team has shown they can compete in the Champions League - but wants his players to now focus on the Premier League.

The Gunners drew 1-1 at PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night in the final game of Group B, with both sides already assured of their place in the last 16 before kick-off in the Netherlands. Eddie Nketiah’s first Champions League goal put them ahead only for Yorbe Vertessen’s smart finish to seal a share of the spoils

After the game, Arteta revealed his delight at their European performances this season. He said: "Overall, I think, very positive. Having not been in the competition for six or seven years and having a team that hasn't got that much experience, I think we've competed really well."

Arteta was also pleased with his team's performance, despite making eight changes for the game. He said: "I really liked the approach of the team in every single game, the way we've tried to play.

"We had some big results and big experiences, like the one we had in Seville or Lens, or even today looking at how the team can act and how fair it is to give certain players that exposure when you make so many changes."

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Arteta also expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, saying: "Overall finishing first with a game to play we have to be really happy. Now we have to now close that chapter until February and make sure that when that chapter opens up again that we're in the best place to compete against another top side."

Mikel Arteta has been impressed with Arsenal in the Champions League (Hollandse Hoogte/REX/Shutterstock)

Despite taking three young players to the Netherlands, none of them made it onto the pitch. Instead, Declan Rice was brought on as a second-half substitute in defence. Arteta, who usually uses Rice in midfield, admitted he wanted to see how he would perform at centre-back. He added: "He has played there before.

"We have to try as if we have an emergency, we have to understand and to be sure that we can fill that gap in the right way. He has a lot of composure on the ball, he wins a lot of duels for a player of his size and he has done it in the past. He is a good option."

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Matt Maltby