Mikel Arteta’s blunt response to Arsenal’s European exit being ‘a blessing in disguise’
Arsenal were eliminated from the Europa League by Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon, losing 5-3 on penalties after drawing home and away with Ruben Amorim’s team
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta takes little comfort in the fact that his side’s exit from the Europa League allows him to focus on the Premier League.
The Gunners were eliminated by Sporting Lisbon in the round of 16 after a painful penalty shoot-out. Arteta’s side drew 2-2 in Portugal and 1-1 on home soil. Pedro Goncalves equalized with a long-range effort and Gabriel Martinelli was the unlucky player to see a penalty saved.
With no more European distractions, Arsenal can turn their full attention to defending their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Her manager doesn’t take it as a positive, however, at least not yet.
After the exit, Arteta was asked if he saw the result as a blessing in disguise. “I can’t see it that way today,” was his reply.
“I don’t know if you go through the competition and win it’s great, if not then it affects your plans in the league, that’s another story,” continued the Spaniard. “We wanted to get through and we put everything into it.
“The effort the lads put in when it wasn’t our best day, individually and collectively, the hunger and the will to win, the way they backtracked was incredible. They really wanted it and today it didn’t happen.”
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Arsenal have little time to lick their wounds as the leaders are back in action on Sunday. With FA Cup challengers Manchester City, the Gunners can gain an eight-point lead by beating unmanaged Crystal Palace, which sacked boss Patrick Vieira on Friday.
“We have to get our heads up, look towards Crystal Palace, there are 11 games left, the first starts on Sunday,” continued Arteta.
“We gave everything [against Sporting]. It wasn’t our day, we weren’t at our best individually and collectively.
“But they gave everything they could on this pitch, but it wasn’t enough. But if we do better on Sunday than today, we have a great chance of winning the game.”
Sunday’s game at the Emirates Stadium gives Arsenal a chance to complete a first Premier League double against Palace since Arsene Wenger was in charge. Arteta’s team won at Selhurst Park on the opening day of the season, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring the opener and Marc Guehi scoring an own goal.
Palace travel to north London in worrying form, with Vieira paying the price after failing to claim a single league win in 2023. The Eagles have just five points from their last 11 games and go into the derby with three straight 1-0 losses.