Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal wards to boost their return to the upper circle of European football by daring to look past Real Madrid to the semifinal of the Champions League.
‘It’s very difficult but we are capable to do it,’ said Arteta after easing past PSV Eindhoven last night reaching the quarter finals for a second successive season.
Last season, Arsenal lost to Bayern Munich and next month they will be back in illustrious company against Real, holders and 15-times European champions, who squeezed by neighbours Atletico on penalties.
‘We are for the second consecutive season in the Champions League quarter-finals and we have to recognise it is very difficult to do,’ said Arteta. ‘Now we want to make the next step.
‘It is important, because we want to win, because the club needs it, we are a club that wants to be the best and wants to be competing with the best in the world.
‘To do that you have to constantly be there and it’s very difficult and we’ve done it for two years in a row and we have the capacity and ability to do it even better.’
