Arteta: Arsenal ´energised´ for PSV contest

Mikel Arteta has no concerns over his team’s energy ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with PSV.

Indeed, he feels the allure of Europe’s elite club competition will only add extra fuel to Arsenal’s fire.

The Gunners have fallen 13 points off the pace in the Premier League after a damaging defeat to West Ham and frustrating draw at Nottingham Forest. According to the Opta supercomputer, they now have just a 1.4% chance of winning the title.

Arsenal were afforded some rest this past weekend, as they had already been eliminated from the FA Cup, though they still head into Tuesday’s first leg against PSV with plenty of injuries to deal with.

However, Arteta feels his team are ready to go.

“It’s a game that obviously brings a different energy, keeps everyone on their toes,” Arteta told reporters in Eindhoven.

“What is ahead is a team that has eliminated Juventus. We played them a lot in recent years, so we know the challenge.”

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Arsenal played PSV twice in the group stages last season, winning 4-0 at home and drawing 1-1 away.

They will need no reminding though that the last time they played the 25-time Dutch title winners in the knockout phase of the Champions League they were eliminated, losing 1-0 away before being held to a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium.

PSV have, though, suffered defeats to Go Ahead Eagles in the last week.

However, Arteta does not think domestic form will impact either team’s chances of success on the European stage.

“Whatever the situation in the league when you come to this stage of the Champions League it’s something else, you feel it in the atmosphere and the energy,” he added.

“You play and you are in or you are out and that gives you urgency and it gets the best out of you for sure.

“Results vary in football, what I care about is how they play; focusing on their weaknesses and how to beat them.”

Arsenal’s former Ajax defender Jurrien Timber said Tuesday’s clash was an opportunity to change the narrative.

“It’s an amazing competition to play in and we did really well in the league phase,” he said. “I don’t see it as a negative but we have been through a lot.

“It’s a challenge for us and we have to take it.”

Arsenal have won each of their last four games in the Champions League, scoring 13 goals and only conceding twice in the process.

The last time the Gunners had a five-game win streak in a single edition was in 2005-06 (five), which was when they registered their best ever finish in the competition (runners-up).