Conference League Draw: Arteta tempers quadruple talk after Champions League last-16 tie
Mikel Arteta insisted he is not thinking about Arsenal winning a quadruple after Friday's Champions League draw and urged his squad to concentrate on immediate tasks; conference league draw.
His remarks come as Arsenal prepare for a packed run of fixtures that include a London derby with Chelsea, a Carabao Cup final and a Champions League last-16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen.
Arteta on the Champions League last-16
Arteta described the reaction to Friday's draw as one of excitement about the possibilities it opens up, while repeatedly insisting the team must focus on the present. He said he is not dwelling on outcomes such as a quadruple, and that the club will proceed "game by game" and try to "earn the right" to remain in every competition to the final stages.
The Champions League path is concrete: Arsenal will face Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16 and, if they advance, could meet either Bodo/Glimt or Sporting Lisbon in a potential quarter-final. Arteta said Arsenal have "earned the right to play in the group stage and find ways to be better than them, " underlining the cause-and-effect he sees between current performances and future opportunities.
Conference League Draw: Arteta reacts to Champions League last-16
What makes this notable is the manager's insistence that present focus must trump speculation about trophies. Arteta framed recent form as the reason for optimism: the team’s consistent performances have given him "a lot of hope and positive thoughts" about what might come next, and the draw has heightened those possibilities.
Carabao Cup final against Manchester City and fixture load
Arsenal remain in contention across all competitions and sit top of the Premier League while preparing for next month's Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. The club also faces an FA Cup fifth-round trip to League One Mansfield Town next weekend, placing clear demands on squad management and selection over a busy period.
Kai Havertz, Max Dowman and Ben White fitness updates
Arteta gave specific fitness notes: Kai Havertz is set to resume training tomorrow and is described as fighting his way back to fitness after a rare midweek break from action. Max Dowman will play minutes for Arsenal's Under-21s against Ipswich Town later on Friday, with the manager confirming that Max would feature for the under-21s that night.
On Ben White, Arteta declined a definitive commitment and said "let's see, " noting the squad would wait for the final training session tomorrow to determine whether one or two players would be available for upcoming matches.
Premier League position, recent form and local context with Chelsea
Arteta addressed the immediate league context ahead of a London derby with Chelsea. He noted the recent mood shift after a 4-1 win at Tottenham and contrasted it with an earlier collapse at Wolves, when Arsenal surrendered a 2-0 lead to finish 2-2 against the bottom-placed side. Those results, he said, have reinforced the need for stability: "You cannot be like this (up and down all the time); you cannot give your best with that, " he told reporters.
The London derby carries added weight: Arsenal have already knocked Chelsea out of the Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage, and the Blues have not beaten Arsenal since August 2021. Arteta described this match as one of the last big-club face-offs in the remaining 10 matches as his side chases the Premier League title. He also referred to wider competitive pressures in the league, noting that other clubs' results are affecting the race for Champions League qualification — pointing to Liverpool and Manchester United putting pressure on a rival side after a draw at home to Burnley involving Liam Rosenior’s team.
Supplementary team news and wider notes
Additional coverage from the week included a Fantasy Premier League live page with a deadline of 18: 30 BST on Friday and commentary from FPL expert Heisenberg (Wes Prickett), who has seven finishes inside the top 30k and a best overall finish of 836th in the world. Premier League team news items compiled during the same window listed Havertz, Dowman & White together with other names: De Ligt & Mount; Cucurella; Alcaraz; Doku back in training; Wirtz & Frimpong; Guimaraes & Miley; and Lewis Cook.
Arteta concluded his media engagement by returning to process: he stressed confidence, preparation and a measured approach, saying he aims to remain stable and analytical as Arsenal pursue multiple competitions.
