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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ed Aarons

‘No fear. Pure fire’: Mikel Arteta rallies wounded Arsenal before Sporting test

The Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, during a training session at Colney.
Mikel Arteta said of Arsenal’s trophy quest: ‘What we are trying to achieve is difficult, is bumpy at times and it’s supposed to be like this.’ Photograph: John Walton/PA

There was a dramatic pause when Mikel Arteta was asked what he wants from the Arsenal supporters against Sporting on Wednesday evening in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

After his attempts to rouse them before the early kick-off against Bournemouth at the weekend by telling them to “bring your lunch” backfired spectacularly with a costly home defeat that ended with some fans booing the Premier League leaders off the pitch, this time the message was more considered.

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