Mikel Arteta watched Tottenham land a plum Champions League draw – and wished Arsenal had not blown it.
As the Gunners were dealt a relatively kind hand, travel-wise, in the Europa League group stage, Arteta claimed he was excited to be back on the Thursday night hamster wheel with PSV Eindhoven, FC Zurich and Norwegian dark horses Bodo/Glimt for company. They may have dodged long-haul trips to deep backward Europe, but he admitted Arsenal could – and should – have been on the lucrative ferris wheel instead of Spurs, reflecting ruefully: “We need to learn the lessons and understand why we're not there.”
Arteta, presiding over the only 100 per cent record in all four divisions ahead of unbeaten Fulham's visit to the Emirates on Saturday, has good reason to be in buoyant mood.
