September 15th 2023.
Mikel Arteta is confident that Arsenal's return to the Champions League will not be a major disruption, despite Arsene Wenger's claims that the competition could 'cost points' in the Premier League.
The north Londoners have not been in Europe's top club competition since the 2016-17 season. This coming week, they face three difficult matches - a trip to Everton, hosting PSV in their first Champions League match since a 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich, and the north London derby against a resurgent Tottenham side.
When asked how much of a test the Champions League games will be for Arsenal, Arteta replied: "Well, it's exactly the same as last year. We played every three days, but it was the Europa League. So the competition is different. Obviously, the demands of that competition and the expectations are different, especially as we've been away from there for seven years. But it's excitement. This is where we want to be. When you look at the fixtures and the games that we have to play, I think everybody's really looking forward to it."
On the trio of matches this week, he continued: "I'm really excited about it obviously. First, Everton is the only one that we have in mind. Obviously our record speaks for itself. In the last six years we haven't won there, so we're going to have to earn it and we know that we're going to have to be at our best to beat them there and it's something that we haven't managed to do, so that's where we're going to start."
Arteta also acknowledged the news that CEO Vinai Venkatesham will be stepping away from his role next summer, saying: "He's been here 14 years and I think he has a right to make that call. He's made that call. He thinks it's the best thing for him, for his future, for his family. For what I can say from my side: I had a great working relationship with him. I enjoy it. He's a person, first of all, that I value, who has been integral in what we've done and I want to wish him the best. But I think he still has a lot of things to do in the meantime until the end of the season!"
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