Mikel Arteta Urges Arsenal to Make Champions League History Ahead of Big Return

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is calling on his team to rewrite their UEFA Champions League story as they prepare to kick off their new campaign on Tuesday. The London club has never won the tournament, and their last appearance in a final was back in 2006, when they lost to FC Barcelona.

Speaking ahead of the match, Arteta said this is a big opportunity for the club to break past records and aim higher.

“We haven’t won it yet, and that shows how difficult it is,” he said. “But that’s also what makes it exciting. Pressure is part of the game — it pushes us to improve every day. We want every decision we make to reflect our goal of competing at the highest level.”

Arteta pointed out that even the biggest clubs often struggle in the Champions League.

“Some teams try seven, eight, or nine times and win only once or twice,” he added. “That’s the nature of this competition. But we want to change that part of our club’s history.”

Ahead of their opening game against Athletic Club, Arteta also shared injury updates on key players. Captain Martin Ødegaard, Ben White, and Bukayo Saka are all dealing with fitness issues.

Ødegaard suffered a shoulder injury during Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest and had to be subbed off early in the game. Ben White has been out since his appearance at Old Trafford on August 17, and Saka picked up an injury during the match against Leeds United on August 23.

Arteta confirmed in a press conference in Bilbao that “Gabi, Kai, Ben, and Martin are still out.”

When asked about Saka, he said, “There are still a lot of steps to go through. It’s too early to say exactly when he’ll be back, but he’s working hard to return as soon as possible.”

Arsenal fans will be hoping the team can overcome injuries and start their Champions League journey strong — and maybe even make history this season.