Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his gratitude towards Pep Guardiola following his team’s thrilling progression to the Champions League semi-finals. The Gunners secured their spot in the semifinals with a dramatic match. A Gabriel Martinelli stoppage-time goal led Arsenal to a stunning 2-1 comeback win against their rivals. Mission accomplished. Though Arteta missed his side’s dramatic comeback, he called it one of the greatest nights of his career. He began by underscoring the importance of his family’s support during these high-stakes times.
Arteta’s relationship to Guardiola runs deep. He served as Guardiola’s assistant manager at Manchester City from 2016 through 2019. So on the morning of that decisive second leg, Arteta called his old mentor for counsel. The conversation clearly impacted him, as he reflected on Guardiola’s influence on his own coaching journey.
“I called him because if I am here, it is thanks to him to a great extent,” – Mikel Arteta
Arsenal’s Journey to the Semi-Finals
It’s Arsenal’s third trip to the Champions League semi-final, an impressive feat considering the club have ambitions above their means. From start to finish, Arsenal’s swagger and poise was too much for the NWSL champions. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring with a second-half strike, but Vinicius Junior equalized for the hosts in the 67th minute. In an exciting finish to the match, Martinelli’s late goal sealed Arsenal’s spot in the fifth round.
In the run up to City’s visit to the Emirates, Arteta has been focusing on how important it is for his team to stay hungry. He made clear that even as they celebrated an important milestone, they need to go further.
“Our team is very hungry and we want to keep on doing great things… we want to keep playing at semi-finals. We will have to go through tough times if we want to continue playing at this stage but we also have to enjoy it,” – Mikel Arteta
Family Support and Future Aspirations
After the emotional win, Arteta admitted that his mind first went to his family. He expressed how proud they were to witness his team’s achievement and the significance of sharing such moments with loved ones.
“The first thing I thought when the game finished was of my wife and my children because they’ve heard all week about what can happen in this stadium. They were here with me and they were proud,” – Mikel Arteta
Arsenal prepare for their next match against Paris St Germain on 29 April. Arteta’s mission is to see them win even more. As the team prepares to depart, they will be vying for a coveted spot in the final, set to take place in Munich. With Arteta at the helm and Guardiola’s influence in his corner, Arsenal fans are hopeful for a memorable campaign ahead.
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