Arsenal's Mikel Arteta Discusses Discipline Record And Focus For Champions League Match

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Mikel Arteta expressed that Arsenal will use the disappointment from their recent Premier League loss as motivation in their Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Gunners suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, with Ryan Christie and Justin Kluivert scoring after William Saliba's first-half red card. This marked Arsenal's 18th red card since Arteta took charge, more than any other team in the same period.

Arteta acknowledged the issue of frequent red cards, noting it was the third in eight matches. "I think we are already aligned that we cannot continue to play with 10 men," he stated. He emphasised the importance of reacting to these situations and moving forward, using the pain from the defeat as motivation for their upcoming game.

Despite their away loss, Arsenal return to Emirates Stadium on Tuesday to face Shakhtar Donetsk. They have an impressive home record in the Champions League, remaining unbeaten since a 3-2 loss to Olympiacos in September 2015. The Gunners have won eight out of nine matches since then, keeping clean sheets in all victories.

Arteta sees this match as an opportunity to bounce back from the Bournemouth defeat and start a new winning streak. "Yeah, we have to start tomorrow obviously," Arteta said. He highlighted the team's eagerness to play such matches and anticipated a fantastic atmosphere at Emirates Stadium.

Arteta also provided updates on Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, who missed the Bournemouth match. Both players are making good progress in their recovery. "They are closer and both progressing really well," Arteta mentioned. However, Odegaard is still not fit for play, while Saka's participation depends on his condition during training.

The recent defeat marked Arsenal's first away loss this year. Despite this setback, Arteta remains optimistic about their chances against Shakhtar Donetsk at home. The team aims to channel their frustration into a strong performance on Tuesday night.