Mikel Arteta will not shy away from selecting key Arsenal personnel to face Crystal Palace on Wednesday in their final game before next week’sChampions Leaguesemi-final first leg even though his team are playing for little beyond pride.
The meagre prize on offer is delaying Liverpool’s title celebrations but the manager denied he could wrap members of his squad in cotton wool. “We cannot think in those terms,” Arteta said. “I think when the players are fit and they are available and they want to play, they have to play. They are at their best when they are playing and they have consistency in their performances.”
A fixture rearranged because of Palace’s presence in the weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals hands Arteta five days to get ready for the first leg at home to Paris Saint-Germain, in pursuit of the club’s first European Cup. “It gives us more time to prepare for the game,” Arteta said. “Very unusual but we take it. We’re very short in numbers at the moment. That little break will be good for us.”
Arsenal, on course to come second for the third season in succession but unable to maintain a sustained title challenge, have found Europe a welcome balm, though Arteta stands by his belief that injuries and ill fortune have affected this season’s domestic campaign. He said: “We are very clear about how we are doing in thePremier Leaguewith everything that happened. So I don’t think we have to make up for anything.” If Arsenal lose at home to Palace, Liverpool will be champions.
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Arsenal’s Champions Leaguequarter-final victory at Real Madridbrought goals from Bukayo Saka, back from injury, and Gabriel Martinelli, back in form. Arteta said of the latter: “He’s a fantastic player to work with. His work ethic, his understanding, he wants to play every minute of every competition. That’s the kind of characters and leaders that we want in the team.”
Saka’s return has been timely, his best form quickly rediscovered. Arteta expects him to be fit to be involved against Palace despite a heavy hit from Leif Davis on Sunday that required treatment and led to ared card for the Ipswich player.
Arteta said: “The worst thing you can do is start reacting to that or paying attention to that and [Saka] needs to stay focused. That’s in his nature. That is something we can’t coach or take credit for. That’s him. He is really calm, very rational, very intelligent in the way he manages his emotions.”
Arteta will tailor his preparations for next week’s PSG game according to what he senses. “If they need more tension, less tension, be more emotional, more tactical, we will try to manage to get the levels in the right way to be as prepared as possible and ready to win.”