Proud and excited: Arteta and Arsenal return to the Champions League
The Guardian Mikel Arteta has spoken of his pride at leading Arsenal into their first Champions League campaign since 2016. Their meeting with PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday marks a return from the wilderness and is a visible waymarker of the progress they have made since Arteta took over almost four years ago.
Although Arteta must reshuffle his attack after Gabriel Martinelli sustained a hamstring victory in the 1-0 win at Everton on Sunday there was an evident buoyancy around Arsenals training facility. They face last seasons Eredivisie runners-up, who are managed by the former Ajax and Borussia Dortmund coach Peter Bosz, and Arteta was happy to dwell on the momentousness of the occasion.
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Proud and excited, he said when asked to describe his feelings. Its been a long time for the club since weve been in the competition and its the first time for me as a manager, so Im really looking forward to it. Weve been chasing and fighting for it and now weve got it we have to make the most out of it.
