‘What are we talking about guys?’ – Arteta on reaching Champions League semi-finals, Rice’s fitness and Madueke’s injury

‘What are we talking about guys?’ – Arteta on reaching Champions League semi-finals, Rice’s fitness and Madueke’s injury

Mikel Arteta hailed the efforts of his Arsenal players after reaching a second Champions League semi-final in two years.

Arsenal drew 0-0 with Sporting at the Emirates Stadium but progressed having won the first leg in Portugal 1-0.

Arteta was without several key players including Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard for the game, while many others battled through fitness issues to play, including Declan Rice, who did not train ahead of the clash.

“Gratitude to them (his players),” Arteta said. “I know the effort and commitment they put in. There’s a lot of work behind it. We’ve done something that has never been done in the history of our club so that tells you the difficulty of it.

“We had to do it in a special way, missing a lot of important players.

“Especially happy for our supporters because they were right behind the team today and we’re going to have another two big nights.

“I know what they are doing, these players. It’s why we are only the English team left in the competition. This league and this schedule takes the hell out of you and it’s very difficult to do what we’ve done.

“We are not perfect. We need to improve things for sure, we recognise that, but let’s value what these players have done because they deserve it.

“Declan yesterday, he was shattered. He had no chance to play today. He wasn’t feeling good at all today and he played 94 minutes at the level he has done. Piero (Hincapie) the same. Every single player.

“He’s putting everything on the line to contribute, to give his best, and I really value that for the team.”

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Asked if there was relief at the result following recent defeats to Manchester City, Southampton and most recently Bournemouth, Arteta hit back.

“I don’t know if the context and reality are very aligned,” he said. “I wish we were doing the Arsenal documentary this season and you can film the last 48 hours and everything that’s been said.

“We have to ask ourselves the question, if we watched it in July and asked ourselves where are Arsenal placed? All of us would say, they are in the bottom three. What are we talking about guys? Please. Enjoy where we are as a club. If someone doesn’t want to do it, so be it.

“We are enjoying it a lot and huge gratitude to the players and our supporters. Thank you.”

Arsenal were, however, handed another injury concern with Noni Madueke forced off with a knee problem.

“I don’t know, it was something in his knee so we had to take him off,” Arteta said on the winger. “I don’t know the extent of that.”

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