Mikel Arteta insists that Arsenal is “here to win” against Girona despite a draw to guarantee the qualification for the Champions League last 16.
The Gunners are currently third in the standings before the conclusion tour on Wednesday evening, with a three -point stamp in the top eight.
With five victories, a draw and a defeat so far from their seven European games this quarter, Arteta’s men need a point against the Spanish team to guarantee a place in the top eight. Girona, meanwhile, plays for pride with their hopes of an already eliminated knock-out.
But with a victory, probably guaranteeing a higher final position and therefore a more favorable draw of 16, Arteta insists that all their efforts will obtain three other points.
“We are here to win the match,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“To do this, we will have to be better than them.
“They are a very good side, if you watch the matches they played in the Champions League against the best opposition, they made life very difficult for them.
“Tomorrow, it will be a very strong team to realize what we want to do because mathematically qualification at the moment is uncertain.”
A victory Wednesday evening would be the fourth consequence of Arsenal in the competition, while the Northern Londoners are trying to win successive victories in the Champions League for the first time since 2016.
It is a striking improvement in their difficulties they encountered during their trips last season, where they lost against Lens, Porto and Bayern Munich on the road.
During their improvement in matches outside this quarter, Arteta said: “We are more consistent and I think we were better by understanding that it is extremely difficult to win and survive the opposition in Champions League.
“Tomorrow, we are going to face a very good opposition and we will have to be very good to beat them.
“Each game, each scenario, each context will be different. It happens here, when we need something in the game, and we are here to win. From the first minute, the attitude and determination will be to start again and, hope, to win the game. ”
