Arteta calls on Arsenal to prove their worth after double blow

Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Aston VIlla at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 14, 2024. – Villa won the game 2-0. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) /

Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to prove they have the mental strength to bounce back from a painful spell that wrecked their Champions League challenge and dented their Premier League title bid.

Arteta’s side lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich on Wednesday as the German side earned a 3-2 aggregate quarter-final victory.

The end of Arsenal’s attempt to win the Champions League for the first time followed a damaging 2-0 home defeat against Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Critics said the Gunners’ stumble over the last week reflected a lack of character and toughness in Arteta’s squad.

But Arsenal can return to the top of the table by winning at Wolves on Saturday while leaders Manchester City are in FA Cup semi-final action against Chelsea.

“It’s been an experience, not the best one,” Arteta told reporters on Friday. “We’re fully focused on the times we have ahead of us with six games to go.

“The context is clear, if we win we go top of the league, you don’t need anything else to be motivated.”

Arsenal are without a win in their last three games, having drawn their quarter-final first leg against Bayern.

Arteta claimed the first game against Bayern and the Villa clash could have produced different results if Arsenal had avoided key mistakes.

“It is what it is and we have to accept it. The Bayern one at home at the beginning, it could have been different,” Arteta said.

“Against Villa we were the better team, but in the second half we paid the price for the chances we gave them and we