Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are “here to win” against Girona despite only needing a draw to secure qualification for the Champions League last 16.
The Gunners currently sit third in the standings ahead of Wednesday night’s concluding round, with a three point buffer inside the top eight.
With five wins, a draw and a defeat so far from their seven European games this term, Arteta’s men need just a point against the Spanish side to guarantee themselves a spot in the top eight. Girona, meanwhile, are playing for pride with their hopes of a knockout place already eliminated.
But with a victory likely ensuring a higher final position and therefore a more favourable last-16 draw, Arteta insists all their efforts will be going towards securing another three points.
“We’re here to win the game,” he stated in his pre-match press conference.
“In order to do that we’re going to have to be better than them.
“They’re a really good side, if you look at the games they’ve played in the Champions League against top opposition, they’ve made life very difficult for them.
“Tomorrow it will be a very strong team in order to achieve what we want to do because mathematically the qualifying at the moment is uncertain.”
A win on Wednesday night would be Arsenal’s fourth in a row in the competition, while the North Londoners are looking to clinch successive away victories in the Champions League for the first time since 2016.
It is a stark improvement from their struggles they encountered on their travels last season, where they lost to Lens, Porto and Bayern Munich on the road.
On their improvement in away matches this term, Arteta said: “We’re more consistent and I think we’ve been better in understanding that it’s extremely difficult to win and overplay opposition in the Champions League.
“Tomorrow, we’re going to face a very good opposition and we’re going to have to be very good to beat them.
“Every game, every scenario, every context is going to be different. It’s coming here, when we need something from the game, and we’re here to win. From the first minute, the attitude and determination will be to go for it again, and hopefully get the game won.”
