Arsène Wenger's plan unfolds as Arteta delivers two key statements on Arsenal's Premier League and UCL title ambitions.
On 5 May 2026 GMT+7, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, gave his latest interview at the press conference before the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 semi-final second leg, hosting Atlético Madrid tonight at 02:00 GMT+7.
Arsenal is contending to reach the UCL final for the first time in 20 years, since finishing runners-up in the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League, losing 1-2 to Barcelona. After the first leg ended 1-1 away at Atlético Madrid, Arsenal had also previously won 4-0 at home during the league phase.
Mikel Arteta discussed managing the squad to compete for two trophies in the final stretch—the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League—by resting key players Bukayo Saka, Víctor Jérécules, and Declan Rice after leading Fulham 3-0 at halftime in the latest league match, which ended with the same score. Arsenal currently leads Manchester City by 5 points in the Premier League standings.
The Arsenal manager commented on the win against Fulham and the lead over Manchester City: "We did nothing related to tomorrow’s game (rotating Saka, Jérécules, Rice early). Everything was about Fulham and what we needed to do to win the Premier League, and we succeeded."
"I think it created a great feeling for everyone—players, the team, and fans. Now we must carry that momentum (leading the Premier League ahead of Manchester City) into tomorrow’s game because that is what we truly want."
"(Regarding preparation for tonight) I will definitely rest well. I am used to working like this, so nothing has changed. The reason for the changes was playing the Champions League semi-final tomorrow, which is fantastic."
"(On the difficulty of winning the UCL) How hard is it to be in our position? Our history tells us, and the level of every team and competition shows daily, that reaching this point deserves great credit for everyone involved. We all know where we want to be."
