Arteta calls for resilience as Arsenal face crucial Champions League test

LONDON: Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to show strength and character following a pair of damaging defeats, as they prepare for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal clash against Sporting Lisbon.

The Gunners were stunned by a 2–1 loss to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, just two weeks after falling 2–0 to Manchester City in the League Cup final. Those setbacks ended Arsenal’s hopes of an unprecedented quadruple in painful fashion.

Despite the disappointment, the defeat to Southampton was only Arsenal’s fifth of the season and marked the first time they have lost back-to-back matches in this campaign. Still, the slump has triggered concern among supporters, with the club having not lifted a trophy since the FA Cup triumph in 2020 and finishing as Premier League runners-up in the past three seasons.

Arteta remains confident his team can respond under pressure as they chase a first-ever Champions League title while also aiming to end a 22-year wait for the league crown.

“In a season, you always have difficult moments—usually two or three. This is the first one we are facing at this level,” Arteta said.