"No Fear, Pure Fire" – Mikel Arteta says Arsenal Ready to Make History in Do-or-Die Sporting CP Showdown

Arsenal FC manager Mikel Arteta has urged his side to raise their ambition ahead of the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Sporting CP on Wednesday, with the club aiming to progress further in the competition.

Arsenal hold a narrow 1-0 advantage going into the return leg and remain in contention for major honours this season. Despite setbacks in domestic competitions, including a League Cup final defeat to Manchester City and an FA Cup exit, the London side continue to compete at the top level.

Speaking before the match, Arteta emphasised the scale of the challenge facing his team.

"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," he said.

"We are trying to do something, in this competition, that hasn't been done in the history of the club. That tells you the difficulty of that."

Title Ambitions Remain Intact

Arsenal are also pushing for their first Premier League title in over two decades. They currently lead the standings with 70 points from 32 matches, although a recent defeat to Bournemouth has allowed Manchester City to reduce the gap ahead of their upcoming fixture.

Arteta maintained that his squad remains focused on the opportunities ahead.

“We have no fear. Pure fire, that's what I want to see from the players, the fans and myself,” he said.

“We are in April with an incredible opportunity ahead of us. Let's go for it. We are putting everything into it.”

Injury Concerns Ahead of Second Leg

The manager did not provide clarity on the availability of key players, including Declan Rice, who missed training. He also suggested that late decisions would be made on the fitness of Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber.

"I do not want to speak on what the situation is with Rice," Arteta said. "We have to wait tomorrow morning to see how a few of the boys are and make the right decision."