"We gave them two goals," claims Arteta

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is confident his side can win in Munich and qualify for the Champions League semi-finals. “I sense the belief among the ­players that we are going to go to Munich next week and be better," he said on Tuesday.

Arsenal drew 2-2 in the first leg of the quarter-final in London and will now have to go to Munich to try to finish off the tie and qualify for their first semi-final in 15 years.

"The match had very different moments. We started very well, we dominated and didn't concede anything. We scored a good goal and, after that, Ben White had a very clear one in front of Neuer and, if it had been 2-0, everything would have been very different," said the Spanish coach on 'TNT Sports'.

“In the Champions League you cannot give anything to the opponent and we gave them two goals today. When you have this situation you are going to be punished. And that is the biggest lesson. The margins are very small in this competition and it is really difficult to create quality chances against this level of opposition."

"But I think the team showed a lot of composure, especially after 2-1 – you can throw your toys away and give your opponents a lot of space but we haven’t done that and the substitutes made a huge impact." On the possible penalty on Bukayo Saka in stoppage time, Arteta was more elusive: "They told me they reviewed it and decided it was not a penalty.

 

April 10, 2024