2026-04-15 10:25:32

Mikel Arteta has “zero fear” that Arsenal will collapse in the coming weeks.

The Gunners begin a potentially season-defining week with the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday (15.04.26) and the coach has issued a message of defiance in a bid to calm supporters who have been left scarred by previous near-misses.

Arteta, whose side will also face Premier League title rivals Manchester City this weekend, said: “There is no fear. Pure fire. That’s it. Me, the first one. Pure fire. That’s what I want to see on the players, on the people, on myself. Fire! I’m on fire. I’m on fire. That’s it. Nothing else.

“I’m dreaming so much. I’ve done so much to be in this position because I know how this club was. I’ve done so much and this is beauty.”

The Spanish manager said: “We are in April, we have an incredible opportunity ahead of us. Let’s confront it, let’s go for it by really putting absolutely everything into it. I want to get it done for all these people that have been in this journey with us. And because they deserve it, because it’s been unbelievable. That’s what is driving me every single day.

“I have zero fear. Fear I had when, ‘Oh, if we don’t get this done, this club, I don’t know what is going to happen.’ That was fear. Now, there’s no fear. It’s just purpose, fire, direction and conviction that we’re going to do it.”

Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League title for 22 years and have never tasted success in the Champions League, leaving Arteta aware of the scale of the task his players face over the coming weeks.

He said: “What we are trying to achieve is difficult, is challenging, and is bumpy and it’s supposed to be like this.

“I said to the players, ‘Guys, we are trying to do something that hasn’t been done in the history of the club in 140 years. So that tells you the difficulty of what you are doing.’ For other clubs, that’s the daily meal. For us, no. So we value a lot where we are.

“We have the opportunity to go to the semi-finals. We are competing to win the Premier League and we are in a really strong position. So the team is doing something incredible because it’s never been done before.”

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