Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described reaching the Champions League semifinals as a significant morale boost for his team, despite their struggles in the quarterfinals against Sporting. The Gunners secured a 0-0 draw at home, thanks to Kai Havertz's crucial away goal in Lisbon, to advance to the last four for the second consecutive year. However, their performance was underwhelming, with only one shot on target. Arteta believes this achievement will positively impact their upcoming Premier League match against Manchester City.
'It's a huge confidence booster, and we deserve to enjoy it,' he said. The team's recent form has raised concerns about their mental resilience, but Arteta remains confident in his squad's ability to perform under pressure. 'We're not perfect, and we need to improve, but there's value in what these players have achieved,' he added.
Despite reaching the semifinals, Arsenal's attacking woes continue to be a concern, with the team managing just 0.64 expected goals in the entire match against Sporting. Arteta acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, 'We had moments where we should have scored, and we need to improve our control, dominance, and finishing.' The substitution of Viktor Gyokeres early in the game was a tactical decision, according to Arteta, who sought to introduce a different type of striker to create more scoring opportunities.