Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has insisted that he is eager to face AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League.
The former Everton standout also claimed that he joined Arsenal to play in big fixtures. His wish has been granted.
“I smiled when the draw was made because I think it’s a really good game to play,” Arteta told Arsenal Player.
“It makes it more exciting to play a team like Milan. Any team at this stage of the Champions League is going to be tough, even if people think you are favourites.
“I like playing against teams like this and we’ve got a good chance, so let’s play. All the boys feel the same. If we have to play them, so be it, and let’s try to win.
“This is exactly why I came to Arsenal. In your career you want to have moments like this. You don’t face them every day so we have to take this special opportunity.”
Milan are an immensely talented side and will definitely create problems for the Gunners back four.
At the moment, I would say that AC Milan are the favorites. They are solid in all three phases of the game and have an arsenal of weapons to throw at Arsenal. Of course, pun intended.
That being said, Arsenal have more than enough quality to emerge victorious, but they will need captain fantastic Robin van Persie to be at his best if they are to pull off the upset. Should be an absolute cracker of a tie.
Until then, Arsene Wenger must also keep him team focused on the Premier League.
The Gunners have tallied 32 points in 17 Premier League matches, which is good enough for fifth place in the table and 12 points behind top of the table Manchester City.
Arteta, much like Arsene Wenger earlier in the week, basically wrote off Arsenal as a potential title contender.
“I think we need to be realistic,” Arteta added.
“It will be really tough to make up 12 points on Man City from here until the end of the season because they haven’t dropped many points until now. But you never know in football. We can only go game by game and try to put pressure on them.
“The main thing is to focus on the football. We know that if we get through this period and get all the points then we will have a really good chance to be fighting for something at the end of the season. We know how important that is for the Club.”
Since the Gunners are not really title contenders this season, their focus will surely shift to securing a Champions League spot for 2012-13.
Will Arsenal qualify for the UEFA Champions League in 2012-13?
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