Mikel Arteta has issued a rallying cry to Gooners to create an electric atmosphere at Emirates Stadium as we fight to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2010 on Tuesday night.
FC Porto travel to north London with a 1-0 lead on aggregate following the first leg in February, but a win would see us reach the last eight of the competition for the first time in 14 years.
“That’s the opportunity that we have tomorrow, in front of our people and in our stadium,” Mikel said in his pre-match press conference at Sobha Realty Training Centre on Monday. “For 96 minutes bring your energy, bring your noise and let’s do it together.
“I think the impact they [the supporters] can make tomorrow is incredible. I don’t think that they really realise so we need that noise and we need them playing every single ball with us.
“We need that emotion controlled as well to understand that the game can go through certain phases and we have to be really intelligent to push in the right moments to get what we want. It is a beautiful opportunity to live these nights - it’s been 14 years so everything that we put in is going to be worth it.”
Asked what it feels like to be on the touchline when the crowd are right behind the team, Mikel joked that it makes him want to put his boots on!
“I want to go out there and play! That’s the feeling that we have; that it is a joy to be part of this club and enjoy being a part of these kind of games. Tomorrow is going to be a great night.”
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