Football News

Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal face a difficult challenge to end the season on a high following their Champions League exit.

The Gunners were beaten 3-2 on aggregate in their quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich, with Joshua Kimmich scoring the winning goal in the second leg. The defeat comes just days Arsenal's Premier League title hopes took a major hit as they lost 2-0 to Aston Villa.

That result leaves them two points behind Manchester City with just six games to go and Arteta has urged his players to "go through the pain tonight" and bounce back for their trip to Wolves on Saturday, despite admitting they face a "very difficult schedule".

Speaking to TNT Sports after the loss to Bayern, Arteta said: "What we have to play for is beautiful. Six games to go and we are two points behind City. It is a very difficult schedule for everybody.

"We have to go through the pain tonight and tomorrow, get up and come with the same attitude we did when we came here and hopefully beat Wolves."

He also suggested Arsenal suffered from a lack of experience across both legs. "At the moment, it is a very gutted dressing room," Arteta admitted. "Disappointed. I cannot find the right words to leave with them, I wish I could. We have to go through it.

"We tried against a team that has a lot of experience and through the tie, there have been moments when we have been better but we give the two goals in the first tie and that is a big advantage to give away.

"Today you could see the margin of error was zero. We made an error defending the box and we conceded a goal. It was difficult and we tried in many different ways, but it's difficult and this is the moment to stay next to the players, give them support because they are the ones who

Mikel Arteta Aston Villa Joshua Kimmich Arsenal