Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to use their experience from last season's run to the Champions League semi-finals as they prepare to face Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16.
Arsenal reached the final four of the competition for the first time since 2006-07 last season, where they were knocked out by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.
This time around, the Gunners are the favourites to lift the Champions League trophy, winning 27% of the Opta supercomputer's simulations, having topped the league phase with a perfect record.
Arteta acknowledged that the Champions League was tough for every team involved, but he believes Arsenal have what it takes to come out on top against Leverkusen.
"They certainly have more experience in the competition," Arteta said when asked if they were better prepared this season.
"When I joined, there was a big part of the team that hadn't played in this competition. That's obviously something that is necessary, like in any other competition, and they understand it better.
"Now we have to perform. I know that you have to be so clear what the game is going to demand, you need to perform on the day.
"The Champions League is about the day, and within that day, there are moments, and you have to be better than the opponent."
All five of Arsenal's Champions League knockout ties against German teams have come against Bayern Munich, going out in the last 16 in 2004-05, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2016-17, and in the 2023-24 quarter-final.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their previous meetings with Leverkusen (W1 D1), and they are a daunting opponent, being the only team that have not trailed at any point in the Champions League this season (62% winning, 38% drawing of their total match time).
With four titles still available to them this season, Arsenal are one of two English teams with the chance of winning the quadruple (along with Manchester City).
But Arteta says while he is confident his side can win silverware this season, he has not mentioned the possibility of chasing all four.
"I don't use that phrase [quadruple]," Arteta adds. "I don't know why they talk about when I'm not there.
"But we all know the difficulty of every competition. Starting tomorrow, we are changing from competition to competition every three days, and so far we've done so well, and we need to continue to do that.
"I live in the present, and I prepare for what I expect and what I feel every single day with optimism. Putting everything that I have in, and trying to transmit and inspire those players to feel the same way.
"And then this is football. We have to do it. There is so much to do. There is a lot that we have done, but the important part is coming now, and it starts tomorrow."
OsinashiVivian
0
is a lie arsenal reached last four 2009 against man united
vosikmptuz
2
Arsenal must raise the standard tomorrow if they hope to progress to the quarter finals. Character-wise the game will expose Arsenal's determination or otherwise.