Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes his injury-ravaged side can still challenge for Champions League glory ahead of Tuesday’s last 16, first leg trip to PSV Eindhoven. The Gunners’ hopes of a first Premier League title for 21 years look to have disappeared after losing 1-0 at home to West Ham and being held 0-0 at Nottingham Forest in their last two matches to fall 13 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Arsenal’s lack of firepower is understandable with all of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli sidelined by injury.
Midfielder Mikel Merino has had to deputise as a makeshift striker in recent weeks, but Arteta insists there is still better to come from his side.
Without the luxury of a free-flowing attack, Arsenal can at least lean on the Premier League’s meanest defence and one of the best in the Champions League so far this season. Only Inter Milan conceded fewer than Arsenal’s three goals as they finished third in the eight-game league phase.
Arsenal managed just one shot on target against Forest and two in the shock defeat to lowly West Ham. But Jurrien Timber believes they do have the firepower to see off the Dutch champions.
“We change the narrative by winning games, it’s as easy as that. We have to score tomorrow, we have to win games,” said former Ajax defender Timber on his return to the Netherlands.
“We have so much quality in our group. We have a lot of injuries, especially up front. We know that. But I think it is a beautiful challenge for us as a team to put our front players, or anyone, in the best position to score goals.”
