Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said last season’s painful Champions League semi-final defeat will serve as a driving force in this year’s campaign as the Gunners chase their first-ever European crown.
The North London side were knocked out by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain, but Arteta believes the experience has made his players stronger ahead of their opening group game against Athletic Bilbao on Tuesday night.
“You take a lot of learnings from it. It’s painful because of the expectation we created and the conviction we had that we could go all the way,” Arteta told reporters at San Mames.
“We showed a high level of consistency and quality throughout the competition. Now, we must learn from it and try to be better.”
The Spaniard emphasized that winning Europe’s top competition requires both quality and fortune.
“We learned we are good enough to compete with any opposition. But you also need luck — a full squad at critical moments and key decisions going your way because the margins are so small.”
Arsenal, who last reached the final in 2006, are still chasing their first Champions League title. However, they face challenges early on, with Gabriel Saliba, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, Ben White, and Bukayo Saka all unavailable.
One of Arteta’s boldest decisions — replacing Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya in 2023 — has since been justified. Raya recently made his 100th appearance for the Gunners, keeping 42 clean sheets and establishing himself as one of Europe’s standout goalkeepers.
“When I first arrived, there was a lot of noise. Having Aaron, who’s a great keeper, and then making the switch caused debate,” Raya admitted. “But I just had to stay focused and prove myself. We have belief, we want to win, we are Arsenal, and we play to win.”
The Gunners, last crowned with silverware in the 2020 FA Cup, will look to turn heartbreak into history this season as they chase Europe’s biggest prize.
