Mikel Arteta is set to manage Arsenal’s first Champions League game for over six years (Photo: Getty)
Mikel Arteta has advised his Arsenal stars not to get overawed by the occasion, just as he was when he made his Champions League debut.
Arsenal host PSV on Wednesday night in what will be the Gunners’ first UCL game for over six-and-a-half years.
Given the time and the high turnover in the squad since then, many of Arteta’s players are in line to make their Champions League debut at some point this season.
In fact, only 11 of the 25-man squad have played in the competition before, with the likes of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice expected to walk out to the famous anthem for the first time tonight.
Many are interested to see how the young team will fare, and thankfully for them they can call upon the advice of their manager who found himself in a similar position back in 2001 – making his UCL debut as a teenager.
‘I went from playing in the second division [in Spain] and a week later I was playing with PSG in the San Siro, looking at [Paolo] Maldini, [Alessandro] Costacurta – and I was scared,’ he said in his pre-match press conference.
‘I was in the tunnel looking at them, they all looked immaculate and I was just a 17-year-old boy [thinking], “I don’t know if I am ready for this!”
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are among 14 Arsenal players yet to play in the Champions League (Photo: Getty)
‘The lesson probably is that you feel like this, [but] once you are on the pitch, just do what you do every single day and treat it in a natural way. Go for it, like we always do.’
Including qualifying matches, Arteta would go onto make 36 appearances in the Champions League for PSG, Rangers, Everton and Arsenal.
And the PSV clash will of course be the 41-year-old’s debut as a UCL manager, and he is unsurprisingly thrilled to have bought the competition back to the Emirates.
More: Trending
‘Proud and excited I would say,’ he replied when asked how it felt to be back.
‘It’s been a long time for the club since we’ve been in the competition and obviously the first time for me as a manager as well. Really looking forward to it.
‘Yes, and we’ve been chasing it and fighting for it and now we’ve got it. Now we have to make the most out of it and it starts at home. I’m sure our all supporters will be really excited for it and to manage that and to as well enjoy the challenge.’
MORE : Dimitar Berbatov slams Manchester United with club ‘in crisis on and off the pitch’
MORE : PSV captain hails ‘quality’ Arsenal duo ahead of Champions League clash
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.