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Mikel Arteta said he believes Arsenal belong at Europe’s top table, but urged his team to prove their Champions League credentials against Bayer Leverkusen.
Arteta has overseen the Gunners’ first knockout stage win in 14 years and their first semifinal appearance in 16 years over the past two seasons.
Arsenal won all eight of their league phase matches and are favourites to progress to the latter stages once more with Leverkusen, Bundesliga champions in 2023-24, currently in sixth place in the table.
Asked if Arsenal had established themselves alongside Europe’s best, Arteta said: “I believe so. This is football and you have to show it tomorrow night.
“I know that you have to be so clear what the game is going to demand. You need to perform on the day. Champions League is about the day. Within that day, there are moments and you have to be better than the opponent.
“The players certainly have more experience in the competition. When I joined, a big part of the team had never played in this competition. That’s obviously something that is necessary, like in any other competition. They understand it better. Now we have to perform.”
Arteta confirmed that William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi are all available to play against Leverkusen. Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori are doubts after both were forced off during Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round win at Mansfield Town, but club captain Martin Ødegaard is definitely out.
