Mikel Arteta: Arsenal Manager admits he is on 'fire' as he responded to claims his team are bottling their season
Arsenal face Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, leading 1-0; the Gunners have been beaten in three out of their last four matches and Mikel Arteta has been questioned recently; Arteta wants to see "no fear, pure fire" from his team in the coming weeks
Mikel Arteta has called for Arsenal to have "no fear" and "pure fire" in an extraordinary rallying cry ahead of the biggest week of his career at the club.
Arsenal are attempting to reach back-to-back Champions League semi-finals for the first time in the club's history, with a potential Premier League title decider at Manchester City.
But Arsenal go into this week on a run of three defeats in four matches, going from four possible trophies to two. And after a shock home defeat by Bournemouth, Arteta's ability to keep his team calm in the most important part of the season has been questioned.
But Arteta was at it again in the press conference room by admitting he himself is on "fire" ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg with Sporting CP on Wednesday, with his team 1-0 up on aggregate.
Asked what he wants from his team on Wednesday night, Arteta took his time for a few seconds and then replied: "No fear. Pure fire. That's it.
That's what I want to see from the players, the people and myself. Go for every opportunity. It's unbelievable.
"We are in April, an incredible opportunity ahead of us. Let's confront it and go for it. I am putting everything into it.
"Fire! I'm on fire! That's it. Nothing else. I'm dreaming so much.
"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.
"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."
Asked if he is seeing it in his players, Arteta replied: "Yes. Big time."
And asked if this is the biggest week of his Arsenal career, Arteta replied: "The biggest opportunity of six and a half years, yeah."
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