Mikel Arteta tasks players to secure Champions League progression against Sevilla

Mikel Arteta has urged his players to secure qualification to the round of 16 when they face Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Arsenal are top of Group B with six points after three matches. The Gunners are one point ahead of second-placed RC Lens and a win will take them to nine points, which could potentially secure them a place in the knockout phase if PSV Eindhoven fails to beat Lens.

Despite domestic setbacks against West Ham in the League Cup and Newcastle United in the Premier League, Arteta wants his players to seize the opportunity to progress in the competition.

Mikel Arteta tasks players to secure Champions League progression against Sevilla

Speaking ahead of the Champions League game at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta said: “The moment you have a chance in football to put it to bed, do it. We have to do a lot of things right tomorrow to earn the right to win it against a really good team with enormous experience in this competition.

“We have to prove tomorrow in front of our people how excited we are to play that game and what it means for us.”

The Arsenal boss is happy with the progress of his players, despite the majority of his players playing in the competition for the first time.

“We had two very good games, the one against Lens we struggled in the first 20-25 minutes of the second half, but overall the way the team has not only performed. I think the presence of the team, the maturity they have shown in big games like this has been really good.

“It’s about doing it consistently and tomorrow we’re going to have to do a lot of those things very, very well.”

It’s bound to be an ebullient Emirates crowd in north London on Wednesday night as Arsenal host their first group encounter since Matchday 1. A similar performance to their majestic showing against PSV wouldn’t go amiss.