Advertisement
I’m on fire!: Arteta responds to claims Arsenal team are bottling their season
14th April, 2026 06:50 PM
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal players to show courage and intensity as they approach a defining stretch of the season, insisting he wants to see “no fear” and “pure fire” from everyone involved.
The North London side head into the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP with a narrow 1-0 advantage on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Emirates.
At the same time, a crucial Premier League showdown against Manchester City looms, a fixture that could heavily influence the title race.
Recent form
Despite the high stakes, Arsenal’s recent form has raised concerns, with three defeats in their last four matches denting momentum. Questions have emerged about whether the squad can handle the pressure during the campaign’s decisive phase, particularly after a surprising loss to Bournemouth.
However, Arteta dismissed any doubts about his mindset, revealing his own passion and determination ahead of the European clash. When asked what he expects from his team, he paused before delivering a clear message: “No fear. Pure fire. That’s it,” Arteta told Sky Sports on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
“That’s what I want to see from the players, the people and myself. Go for every opportunity. It’s unbelievable,” he added, emphasising the magnitude of the moment.
With the season reaching its climax, Arteta highlighted the significance of the opportunity in front of them. “We are in April, an incredible opportunity ahead of us. Let’s confront it and go for it. I am putting everything into it.”
The Spaniard went further to underline his personal drive, declaring: “Fire! I’m on fire! That’s it. Nothing else. I’m dreaming so much.”
Reflecting on his journey at the club, Arteta pointed to the work done to bring Arsenal back to competing at the highest level. “I’ve done so much to be in this position. Because I know how this club was. I’ve done so much against anything that I just see beauty, opportunity. I want to get it done who have been on this journey with us. They deserve it, it’s unbelievable.”
He added that fear no longer plays a role in his thinking: “I have zero fear. I had fear when: if we don’t get this done, I don’t know what happens to the club. Now? It’s just purpose, fire, direction.”
Players’ mentality
When asked whether his players share that mentality, Arteta responded confidently: “Yes. Big time.” He also admitted that the upcoming fixtures represent “The biggest opportunity of six and a half years, yeah.”
Arsenal have recently faced criticism suggesting they may falter in the title race, especially after missing a chance to extend their lead over Manchester City. A viral moment involving a rival fan mocking the team did little to faze the manager during the Chelsea vs Manchester City duel on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
“One fan?” Arteta said. “One fan that says something, over 60,000 fans that are incredible at the Emirates? I don’t get moved by that,” he stated.
Instead, he stressed the importance of focusing on the support within the club. “I show [my players] all the people and players that love these players for what they’re doing which is unprecedented in this club,” Arteta added.
Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of competing for both domestic and European honours, insisting that the challenges are part of the journey. “What we are trying to achieve, it’s difficult, challenging, bumpy at times. It’s supposed to be like this. You have to confront it.”
Historical ambitions
He further underlined the historical context of their ambitions: “We are trying to do something, in this competition, that hasn’t been done in the history of the club – in 140 years,” Arteta said.
Despite the hurdles, Arteta remains optimistic, pointing to the progress made so far. “We value a lot where we are. We want to be in the semi-finals. We are in a really strong position in the Premier League for 22 years without doing it. So we know the difficulty of that. The beauty of it, is that it’s difficult,” he explained.
He also highlighted the club’s growth in Europe: “We haven’t been in this position in the Champions League ever in our history. We have overcome a lot of hurdles that were there for 140 years, they’ve never been done before,” he noted.
Looking ahead, Arteta stressed the need for even greater ambition. “If we want to go to the next step, for sure, we have to have more ambition than anyone else. We are doing it, and are very, very close,” Mikel Arteta said.
Finally, he expressed pride in his squad’s achievements while emphasizing their hunger for more. “What I love about where we are is that there is no satisfaction about it. I do value a lot what the players have done.” He explained.
