Arsenal boss Arteta issues rallying cry ahead of Sporting clash: ‘No fear and pure fire’

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants to see “no fear and pure fire” from both his players and the fans during tomorrow night’s Champions League clash with Sporting CP.

The Gunners are in the midst of a late-season wobble that threatens to derail their aspirations with Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth their third loss in four games with the only success over that period coming in the first leg of their quarter-final tie against the Lisbon club last week.

It is a huge week for Arsenal with the game against Sporting followed by a crunch Premier League clash at Manchester City on Sunday.

Asked what he wanted to see from the Emirates crowd tomorrow night with Arsenal looking to preserve a 1-0 advantage, Arteta paused and then said: “No fear, pure fire. That’s it.

“Pure fire is what I want to see from the players on the pitch [as well]. Go for it, because the opportunity is unbelievable.

“Let’s confront it and go for it, putting absolutely everything into it.”

He backed that up by adding: “I am on fire. That’s it. Nothing else. I am so driven.

“I have done so much to be in this position because I know what this club is worth.

“Now, this is beauty. I just see beauty and opportunity. I want to get it done for all the people who have been on this journey with us, because they deserve it. They have been unbelievable.

“Now there is zero fear. It’s purpose, fire, and conviction that we’re going to do it.”

Arsenal are ‘doing something incredible’ – Arteta

Arsenal have never won the Champions League and have not claimed the Premier League title since 2003 and Arteta was eager to reinforce the message that the team are performing well despite the recent setbacks.

“What we are trying to achieve is difficult, challenging, and bumpy at times. You have to confront it, and what I said [to them] is that we’re trying to do something that hasn’t been done in the history of the club for years.

“It’s the first time we’ve reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League three years in a row. We value where we are a lot. We have the opportunity tomorrow to reach the semi-final, and we are competing in the Premier League in a very strong position after 23 years without doing so.

“The beauty of it is that it’s difficult and challenging.”

Bournemouth defeat was a blow for Arsenal

Saturday’s defeat to Bournemouth, and City’s win at Chelsea on Sunday, saw the Gunners’ lead at the top of the Premier League table trimmed to six points with Pep Guardiola’s side also having a game in hand.

“It was a big disappointment and a hard one to take, especially losing at home when we had the opportunity to make the gap bigger, bring more certainty, and go into this week in the best possible manner,” admitted Arteta, who was giving little away over the fitness of some of his key players.

Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori all missed the open part of training this afternoon and it remains to be seen if they will be risked against Sporting or held back for the weekend.

“We have to wait until tomorrow morning to see how a few of the boys are, and then make the right decision with them,” said Arteta, who added on England international Rice: “He has played a lot of games, and that is part of the issue.

“He is going to try to do everything he possibly can to be with us tomorrow evening. That’s for sure.”