Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is looking forward to the competitive beauty of the UEFA Champions League to give a breath of fresh air to his injury-depleted squad.
The Gunners’ aim of a first league title in 21 years seems to be fading away after falling 13 points behind Liverpool.
A European win for the first time in the club’s history now seems the only chance of ending a five-year trophy drought, and a last 16 tie against PSV could seem a favourable match-up for Arsenal due to injuries.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are confirmed to miss the rest of the season – but Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli could return for the quarter-finals, should Arsenal progress.
“I know that what’s lacking is that piece up there,” said Arteta. “There’s a lot to play for and we need to find the solution to unlock it.
“We have the Champions League, we have a beautiful competition in front of us and we have to ready for Tuesday.”
Lack of creativity as well as finishing touch in the final third has been a common occurence all season for Arsenal.
Arteta’s men managed just one shot on target in a 0-0 draw at Forest last week, the ninth time this season they have failed to score in a match.
Captain Martin Odegaard has struggled to hit the heights of the previous two campaigns since recovering from an ankle injury that kept him out for two months earlier in the season.
“He came back in such a strong way and performed at a very, very high level,” said Arteta on Odegaard’s inconsistent form.
“Then just sustaining that over a period of time, like we are demanding the players to do constantly, especially the creative players, is very difficult.”
