Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are “right here to win” in opposition to Girona regardless of solely needing a draw to safe qualification for the Champions League final 16.
The Gunners at the moment sit third within the standings forward of Wednesday night time’s concluding spherical, with a 3 level buffer inside the highest eight.
With 5 wins, a draw and a defeat so removed from their seven European video games this time period, Arteta’s males want only a level in opposition to the Spanish facet to ensure themselves a spot within the prime eight. Girona, in the meantime, are taking part in for satisfaction with their hopes of a knockout place already eradicated.
However with a victory seemingly making certain the next ultimate place and due to this fact a extra beneficial last-16 draw, Arteta insists all their efforts can be going in the direction of securing one other three factors.
“We’re right here to win the sport,” he acknowledged in his pre-match press convention.
“As a way to try this we’re going to must be higher than them.
“They’re a very good facet, for those who take a look at the video games they’ve performed within the Champions League in opposition to prime opposition, they’ve made life very troublesome for them.
“Tomorrow will probably be a really robust staff to be able to obtain what we wish to do as a result of mathematically the qualifying in the intervening time is unsure.”
A win on Wednesday night time could be Arsenal’s fourth in a row within the competitors, whereas the North Londoners need to clinch successive away victories within the Champions League for the primary time since 2016.
It’s a stark enchancment from their struggles they encountered on their travels final season, the place they misplaced to Lens, Porto and Bayern Munich on the street.
On their enchancment in away matches this time period, Arteta stated: “We’re extra constant and I feel we’ve been higher in understanding that it’s extraordinarily troublesome to win and overplay opposition within the Champions League.
“Tomorrow, we’re going to face an excellent opposition and we’re going to must be excellent to beat them.
“Each recreation, each situation, each context goes to be totally different. It’s coming right here, once we want one thing from the sport, and we’re right here to win. From the primary minute, the angle and dedication can be to go for it once more, and hopefully get the sport received.”