Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are ready for a busy fortnight as they strive to save their season.
The Gunners are set to face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League round of 16, with the first leg in the Netherlands on Tuesday night and the second in London eight days later. In between two games, there is a crucial Premier League fixture away to Manchester United on Sunday.
After two league games without a goal, Arsenal is 13 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. The Champions League may now be their best opportunity of winning a trophy, but it will not be easy, with either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid waiting if they defeat PSV.
Arteta’s team has had a weekend free following their early FA Cup defeat, but there has been plenty going on off the pitch. Here are Mirror Football‘s most recent lines from North London.
Guardiola echoes Arteta.
Pep Guardiola complained about match-ball after Manchester City won the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday, repeating Mikel Arteta’s criticisms after Arsenal lost the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle. Guardiola’s Manchester City team eventually defeated Plymouth Argyle, but only after falling behind early on to Maxi Talovierov’s goal.
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“I don’t know how many chances or shots we had that were possibly off target due to the ball,” Guardiola said of the FA Cup ball, which is different from the one used in the Premier League and Carabao Cup. “The ball is difficult to bring it where you want because sometimes, this ball does whatever the ball wants”
Arteta had similar worries in January following the first leg of the Newcastle match. “It’s tricky because this ball flies so much,” the Spaniard stated. “We discussed that as well, so there are details that we can do better.”
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