There was dramatic silence when Mikel Arteta was asked what he wanted from Arsenal fans in the face-off against Sporting on Wednesday evening in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

After his previous attempt to motivate the fans before the Bournemouth match backfired and ended in a painful home loss, he chose a calmer message this time. He said: 'No fear... just fire. This is what I want to see from the players, the fans, and myself. Let's go with everything we have because the opportunity is amazing. We are in April and we have a great opportunity ahead of us, so let's face it with all we've got.'

In a week where the Spanish coach faced criticism over his ability to lead the team to titles after three consecutive second-place finishes in the league, Arteta tried to assert that things are under control despite three defeats in the last four matches.

He pointed out that the team has only lost three times in the previous 49 matches, but the fierce competition from Manchester City, along with the uncertainty about when star Bukayo Saka will return due to an Achilles tendon injury, makes this phase one of the toughest challenges since he took over the role in 2019.

Arteta spoke about the disappointment after the loss to Bournemouth, affirming that it was a missed opportunity to widen the gap before the anticipated clash against Manchester City. He added: 'What we are trying to achieve is difficult and full of challenges, and it is natural to go through ups and downs. We are trying to do something that hasn't happened in the club's 140-year history.'

He was referring to the possibility of reaching the Champions League semi-finals for two consecutive seasons, although he mistakenly thought this was the first time the team reached the quarter-finals three times in a row.

To qualify for the semi-finals, where they might face Atletico Madrid, Arsenal must overcome Sporting, who were close to achieving a positive result in the first leg if not for the brilliance of goalkeeper David Raya. The team's strong record in the tournament this season, with 10 wins out of 11 matches, gives great confidence, although Arteta dismissed the idea that his previous statements increased pressure on the fans.

In the absence of Saka, Eberechi Eze might play a crucial role, having scored an important goal in the previous round. The player praised his coach, saying that his passion is evident and reflects on the entire team, confirming that the players believe in their ability to make history.

He concluded: 'We might go through tough experiences, but the most important thing is how we handle them. I see a team full of confidence and readiness to help, with a strong mentality capable of moving forward despite all the pressures.'