What Mikel Arteta told Arsenal critics after making Champions League history speaks volumes

Mikel Arteta was determined and direct after his Arsenal side made history in reaching back-to-back Champions League semi-finals

Perhaps the most Arsenal-esque performance of the season. Some might take issue with that, not wanting to associate a dogged, battling display like we witnessed at the Emirates on Wednesday night with the club’s identity.

However, this is the Arsenal that we have come to watch, learn and, on nights like this, appreciate. They got the job done and took their one-goal lead from Lisbon and maximised it to the nth degree.

If you told Arsenal supporters they would end the week with two goalless draws, many would happily bite one’s arm off for it, meaning they’d come away from Manchester with a positive outcome and the Premier League title still in their hands while also reaching a Champions League semi-final. It had been hoped that they might have put this tie to bed earlier in order to rest key players but ended up committing plenty of energy to getting the job done.

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Mike Arteta might also have lost yet another key player in Noni Madueke, who came off with a knee injury. Although he was spotted bounding around the field at full-time, celebrating, even if it was clearly without moving fully comfortably, the hope will be that it is not too serious, just like before, while on England duty.

Tactically, Arteta changed his back four with both Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie coming into the team. This gave the side a much more secure base and, furthermore, a greater outlet to break free of Sporting’s press.

The Ecuadorean played high up on the left flank, pinning the Sporting full back and giving an outlet for Gabriel, Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice. The latter once again held the captain’s armband in the wake of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka’s absences.

Mikel Arteta explained post-match in his press conference that the players had decided that the England midfielder should lead the side, despite Gabriel having been above him in the pecking order. You could tell that he was not fully fit, having been in bed ill for quite some time, and yet he still gave 94 minutes of football in what is simply astonishing commitment to the team and exactly the example to lay out as captain.

“They made the decision,” Arteta said. “They made the decision because Declan has earned the status, the role, the way he's taken ownership in difficult moments.

“He's a great leader, he's a top player for us, and I love that the players take that ownership.”

Odegaard’s future remains up in the air, as does his return to the side, but if there is to be a changing of the guard this summer, then Rice is primed and ready to take over and lead this new-age Arsenal team. What comes next in the league is City, but this win sets up a very intriguing battle with Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid.

Despite winning 4-0 against La Rojiblancos in the league phase, that all goes out of the window. This is a new game, a different game and a match which promises to pit two of Europe’s most determined sides against one another.

Atleti tend to match up well to any opponent, and despite conceding so many against both North London sides in the competition, they showed against Barcelona just how good they are. But now attention for Arteta does turn to the weekend.

“100 per cent, and especially I saw it in moments of difficulty when we give the ball away in circumstances that are not very much like us,” he said when asked if the result provides a boost ahead of Sunday. “How willing everybody is.

“Declan yesterday, he was shattered, he had no chance to play today, he wasn't feeling good at all today, he played 94 minutes at the level that he's on. Piero the same, every single player is putting everything through the line to contribute, to give their best, and I really value that from the team.”

But what perhaps was the most interesting line from the manager’s post-match thoughts were sparked when he was asked whether he was relieved to get the result after the loss to Bournemouth on the weekend. His response took the angle in a very different direction.

“I know, but what happens in reality or where we are, I don't know if the context and the reality are very much the sight,” he said. “I wish that we were doing the Arsenal documentary this season, and you can film the last 48 hours and know everything that has been said, but we are watching the series in July, and then we have to ask ourselves the question, we are watching the movies and say, okay, where does Arsenal place?

“I think all of us will say they are in the bottom three. So what are we talking about, guys? Please, enjoy where we are as a club. If someone doesn't want to do it, so be it.

“We are enjoying a lot, and I feel a huge gratitude for what the players are doing and our supporters, so thank you.”

He might be enjoying it, they might be enjoying it, but that is not the word I would associate with Arsenal right now. I enjoyed sitting down to watch Atletico take on Barcelona, granted with no horse in the race, but to enjoy the fixture and I did again when watching back the Bayern Munich win over Real Madrid too.

That is just not what this Arsenal team do. And yet, they have made history, reaching back-to-back Champions League semi-finals and could yet make plenty more, having given themselves quite the chance to go all the way to Budapest.