Mikel Arteta said he believes Arsenal belong at the top of Europe but urged his team to prove their Champions League credentials against Bayer Leverkusen.
Arteta has overseen the Gunners’ first knockout stage victory in 14 years and their first semi-final appearance in 16 years in the last two seasons.
Arsenal won all eight league stage matches and are favorites to progress to the latter stages once again with Leverkusen, Bundesliga champions in 2023-24, currently in sixth place in the table.
Asked if Arsenal had established themselves alongside the best in Europe, Arteta said: “I think so. This is football and we have to prove it tomorrow night.”
“I know you have to be very clear about what the match is going to demand. You have to perform on that day. The Champions League is about the day. Within that day, there are moments when you have to be better than the opponent.
“The players certainly have more experience in the competition. When I came in, a large part of the team had never played in this competition. That is obviously something necessary, like in any other competition. They understand it better. Now we have to perform.”
Arteta confirmed that William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi are available to play against Leverkusen. Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori are doubts after both were forced off during Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round win at Mansfield Town, but club captain Martin Ødegaard is definitely out.
