Arteta urges Arsenal to be 'beasts' in Champions League semi-final

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has issued a rallying cry ahead of their crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid, urging his players to perform like 'beasts' as they chase a place in the final. The Gunners secured a vital 1-1 draw in the first leg in Madrid, putting them in a strong position to finish the job at the Emirates Stadium. Arteta's message is clear: the team is hungry and determined to go one step further than their semi-final exit last season.

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We will take to the pitch as beasts tomorrow and enjoy the moment and go for it. I can’t wait. I feel the energy among the team and our supporters. This is the moment that we want to live together.

Arteta emphasized the significance of this moment for the club, highlighting the hard work and dedication that has brought them to this stage after a 20-year wait for a Champions League final appearance. He spoke of the immense excitement and energy within the team and among the supporters, underscoring the desire to achieve something 'amazing' together. The return of captain Martin Odegaard and forward Kai Havertz from injury further bolsters Arsenal's squad, adding crucial experience and firepower for the decisive match.

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We have worked hard as a club and as a team after 20 years to be in this position again. And we are so hungry to get through to that final.

Reflecting on the club's long-standing ambition, Arteta recalled visualizing lifting the Champions League trophy years ago, a dream he has consistently worked towards instilling in the team. While acknowledging that winning major trophies cannot be guaranteed, he stressed the commitment to daily hard work, clear vision, and decisive decision-making to elevate the club to the highest level in Europe. Unlike in previous years, Arteta opted against a specific plea to the fans, believing the magnitude of the occasion speaks for itself, but expressed his eagerness to share the experience and create something truly special with the supporters.

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I did that many years ago, and it was the thing that I had in mind for this club. You can never promise to win major trophies, but you can promise to work every single day by implementing the vision and being determined with the ideas and the decisions to make this club one of the best in Europe.