Mikel Arteta wants Arsenal to create a mythology around European nights at the Emirates and admits the pain of watching Champions League football from afar has served as motivation for him and his players.
Arsenal face Sporting on Thursday evening in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie, which is delicately poised after the sides drew 2-2 in Lisbon last week. The Premier League leaders have generated a fearsome atmosphere for domestic home games and, with Arteta’s team chasing a first continental title since 1994, he is keen to build the kind of mystique from which Liverpool have long benefited against foreign opposition at Anfield.
