As the UEFA Champions League campaign intensifies, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and defender Takehiro Tomiyasu address the upcoming match against Sevilla, highlighting the squad’s ambition to clinch early qualification to the knockout stages and the determination to overcome recent setbacks.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called on his squad to capitalise on the chance to secure a place in the Champions League knockout stages ahead of schedule, as the team prepares for their upcoming match against Sevilla.
Following victory over the same side, Arsenal find themselves leading the group and could advance with a win if PSV Eindhoven fails to beat Lens.
In his pre-match press conference, Arteta emphasises the importance of seizing the opportunity to alleviate the subsequent mental and physical pressures on his players. “The moment you have a chance in football to put it to bed, do it,” he said.
“We have to do a lot of things right tomorrow to earn the right to win it against a really good team with enormous experience in this competition.
“We have to prove tomorrow in front of our people how excited we are to play that game and what it means for us.”
Arsenal’s inexperienced squad has adapted well to the Champions League, recording impressive wins against PSV and Sevilla. Arteta is pleased with their performance and maturity in these big games.
“We had two very good games,” Arteta added. “The one against Lens we struggled in the first 20-25 minutes of the second half, but overall the way the team has not only performed, but I think the presence of the team, the maturity they have shown in big games like this has been really good.
“It’s about doing it consistently, and tomorrow we’re going to have to do a lot of those things very, very well.”
Despite recent Premier League setbacks against West Ham United and Newcastle United, Arteta remains focused on getting his team back to winning ways. He reflected positively on the level of play against Newcastle, asserting that the team performed better than in their previous encounter, despite the loss.
Arteta believes that building on the right aspects from that game and sharpening their edge in the final third could lead to a win on Wednesday night.
Tomiyasu sees Champions League as an oppportunity for Arsenal
Takehiro Tomiyasu, sharing his thoughts in a press conference, labelled the Sevilla match as a “massive opportunity” to rebound from the Newcastle defeat and to secure advancement to the next stage.
Living his dream of playing in the Champions League, Tomiyasu is eager to contribute to the team’s success, highlighting the importance of fitness and readiness, especially in light of recent injuries within the squad.
“To play in the Champions League was my biggest dream so I’m happy to play in it,” he said. “I just want to play on the pitch as much as I can.
“We are really focused on tomorrow’s game. We need to bounce back from Saturday’s game.
“It’s a massive opportunity for us to qualify for the next stage. It’s a massive game for us and we’re playing to get three points against them.
“It’s not easy to play in the Champions League and Premier League, but we need to be fit and available as much as we can because already we’ve lost some players with injuries. For me, I need to be fit and available as much as I can.”
Tomiyasu also shared insights into his footballing education and ambidexterity on the field, attributing his ability to play with both feet to natural practice from a young age.
He emphasised the importance of adaptability, commitment, and the desire to win, regardless of the position he plays.
“To be honest I didn’t train to be both footed,” he explained. “When I was a kid, when I had the ball on my right foot, I played with my right foot, and if it was on the left foot I played with the left foot.
“It’s not easy and my role changes each game but the most important thing is how to behave on the pitch, how much you want to win the game, how much you want to beat your opponent. This doesn’t change. My job is to give 100 percent on the pitch. It doesn’t matter which position I play in.”