Arteta noted that Arsenal coped with European engagement last season even if it was in Europa
By Kehinde Okeowo
Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, has allayed the fears of Arsenal supporters, insisting that the return to the club to UEFA Champions League (UCL) this season will not affect them negatively.
With the end of the international break, Arteta’s men have three difficult matches in quick succession.
First up, they travel to Everton on Sunday, where they have not won since 2017.
On Wednesday, September 20, they will play in Europe’s elite club competition against PSV Eindhoven for the first time in six years.
Just four days later, they take on a resurgent local rivals, Tottenham in a north London derby at the Emirates.
Reacting to the club’s return to UCL on David Seaman’s ‘Seaman Says’ podcast, former Gunners boss, Arsene Wenger, claimed the schedule and competition will “cost points” in the Premier League.
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The Frenchman said: “I felt they [Arsenal] invested serious money in the last four years, they invested a lot of money, but I must say they invested it well. They still have a young team, a talented team.
“I think they learned from what happened to them last year. They couldn’t cope well with that, mentally it was very difficult. I’m sure they would’ve learned from that.
“I believe as well that City having lost De Bruyne for a long period and Gundogan, who was a very important player, even if they are a top team I don’t disagree with that, but maybe they can take advantage of it. But we have to deal with the Champions League, so that costs points as well.”
However, when asked how much playing the Champions League games will test Arsenal, Arteta during his press conference before the game at Goodison Park replied: “Well, it’s exactly the same as last year. We played every three days, but it was the Europa League. So the competition is different.
“Obviously, the demands of that competition and the expectations are different, especially as we’ve been away from there for seven years. But it’s excitement.
“This is where we want to be. When you look at the fixtures and the games that we have to play, I think everybody’s really looking forward to it.”
