💬 “One of the Saddest But Proudest Moments”

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool, Mikel Arteta described the recent Champions League exit as both heartbreaking and defining.

“It was one of the saddest, but proudest moments I’ve had as Arsenal manager.”

Despite losing to PSG, Arteta felt the performance deserved more:

“We were the better team over two legs. We had 5 expected goals to PSG’s 3. That should take you to the final.”

🧠 Growth Mindset: “Pain Is a Motivator”

The Spaniard remained focused on progress and perspective.

“We’ve grown. This pain, while hard to take, is necessary. It drives us forward. It shows how far we’ve come.”

Arteta emphasized maturity in tough moments:

“Football has brutal moments. But when you compete at the top, margins define everything. We’re learning how to handle that.”

🎯 Transfer Talk: Do Arsenal Need a Striker?

On potential summer signings, Arteta acknowledged room for growth while backing his current squad:

“I love the players we have. But if you tell me we can get three players who score 25 goals each, of course we’ll bring them in. It’s about finding the right balance.”

🔴 Facing Liverpool: Motivation Through Respect

Arteta confirmed a guard of honour for Liverpool ahead of Sunday’s fixture:

“They deserve that. It’s a show of respect. And hopefully it motivates us to be the ones applauded next season.”

He added a note on mindset heading into the final stretch:

“We have three games left. That’s three chances to show who we are — how we respond. That’s what matters now.”

🙌 A Word to the Fans

Closing on a personal note, Arteta expressed appreciation to Arsenal supporters:

“To the supporters, thank you. We didn’t go as far as we wanted in Europe, but your belief has carried us. We go again — together.”