Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has made a bold statement ahead of their Champions League opener, saying the Gunners are determined to make history by winning the competition for the first time.
The London club travel to Spain on Tuesday night to face Athletic Bilbao at San Mamés.
Expectations are high, especially after last season’s semi-final run ended painfully at the hands of eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Arteta outlined Arsenal’s ambition.
“Like the rest of the teams that have strengthened and won it on many occasions, that’s the aim,” he said.
The manager explained that small details will be decisive. “The margins are super small and you have to be at your best from day one to give yourself the best possible chance.”
Arsenal were just one step away from the final last year, but the disappointment has fueled their determination.
Reflecting on the campaign, Arteta said the team has learned vital lessons.
“That we are good enough, that we can compete against any opposition on the day,” he stressed.
“You need to have a full squad available when it comes to the most critical moments, and then the ball has to go in at the right moment or with the right decision.”
Moreover, he highlighted that belief and depth are just as important as talent.
Despite their rich football history, Arsenal have never lifted the Champions League trophy.
Arteta, however, wants to change that.
“The big clubs try seven, eight, nine times and they win two,” he said. “In this competition, you’ll fail more than you succeed. That’s the history of our club and that’s what we want to change.”
The statement underlines his determination to push Arsenal beyond domestic glory and into Europe’s elite circle.
For Arsenal fans, the dream of European success has lingered for decades.
The team’s return to the semi-finals last season reignited hope, but this season comes with even greater expectation.
