Arsenal must use ‘rage’ of Bournemouth defeat at PSG, says Mikel Arteta
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Arsenal's Jakub Kiwior looking dejected after Bournemouth's Evanilson scored their second goal on May 3.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hoped to carry positive momentum into the May 7 Champions League semi-final, second leg at Paris Saint-Germain but, instead, had to call on his players to harness their rage from their 2-1 home defeat by Bournemouth.
Declan Rice marked his 100th Arsenal appearance with a well-taken goal to give the hosts a lead at the break on May 3, as they sought to tighten their grip on second place in the English Premier League.
However, a nearly full-strength Gunners side conceded two sloppy goals from Dean Huijsen and Evanilson in eight second-half minutes, dashing Arteta’s plans
Arsenal trail PSG 1-0 after the first leg at the Emirates on April 29.
“We should have killed the game and we didn’t. On top of that, if you defend your box in two set-pieces in the way we have done, you’re in big trouble,” said Arteta.
“It was nowhere near the standards that we are used to. A positive result would really help us to build what we wanted towards Wednesday.
“So what we have created now is a lot of rage, anger, frustration and a bad feeling in the tummy. So (we must) make sure that we use that for Wednesday to have a massive performance in Paris, win the game and be in the final.”
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard told Sky Sports: “Massive disappointment. It is too chaotic and too sloppy from us. The second half is not acceptable. It is a massive game on Wednesday, but we have to use today to be ready and beat PSG on Wednesday.”
Arteta made just two changes from the loss to PSG, including fullback Jurrien Timber after he was withdrawn in the closing stages of the first leg. Timber was not in the squad for the May 3 game and Arteta was cagey about the Dutchman’s chance for the second leg.
Asked if he was confident Timber could play a part in the return leg, Arteta said: “Confident? At the moment, no, because he wasn’t able to play here and we play in four days.”
While Arsenal’s team selection felt like a gamble ahead of the biggest game of their season against PSG, who have already won Ligue 1 and made 10 changes for their 2-1 loss at Strasbourg on May 3, Arteta said he had little choice.
Having pushed eventual English champions Liverpool for much of the season, Arsenal are now looking over their shoulders and need six points from their remaining three Premier League matches to be sure of Champions League football next term.
They travel to Liverpool on May 11 before hosting Newcastle United the following weekend in two difficult games, with Arteta admitting they cannot focus exclusively on Europe.
“Mathematically, we are not qualified (for next season’s Champions League). We haven’t earned the right to finish second yet, so we still have a lot to do,” the Spaniard said. REUTERS, AFP
