Mikel Arteta issues plea to Arsenal fans for Real Madrid showdown: ‘Come very early to the warm-up!’ | OneFootball

Arteta calls for supporters to create ‘special atmosphere’ for Champions League quarter-final first leg at Emirates Stadium

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal face Real Madrid at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal host Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie on Tuesday night.

Arteta has challenged his players to “create our own story” as the Gunners bid to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2008-09.

The Arsenal boss believes the fans will be key to achieving that and has issued a rallying cry to supporters.

Arteta has challenged Arsenal players to ‘create our own story’ against Real Madrid

Action Images via Reuters

“I encourage them to come very early to the warm-up and create those nights that we haven’t lived many of those at the Emirates,” said Arteta. “So that’s an opportunity again.

“When we have built history, we have to build moments, and a moment is being built with our people.

“And we have to create that energy, that belief, that enthusiasm to play every single action there, because the bonus, the confidence that that gives you, there is nothing else that we can replicate that I can tell the players constantly to maintain that throughout the 95 minutes that it is going to be played.

“We’re going to put all the ingredients, everything that is in our hands, to play the game that we want and to take the game in the direction that we want.

“In order to achieve that, we’re going to need our people playing every single ball with us. That’s going to make a huge difference because that’s something that is really needed.

“At these stages, you need your home stadium to create a very, very special atmosphere to generate momentum.

“I encourage everybody to go there tomorrow to play the game with us. Not to be there watching it, but to play the game with us.

“Be super convinced… 8pm tomorrow night, 11 players, 60,000 people, really super convinced that we are ready to win and to beat them.

“That’s the mindset that I want. The rest - be the team that we have been over the last quarter of the season.

“With all the ups and downs and things that we have to deal with, continue to do that because that's our super strength.”

Real Madrid are the Champions League holders and go into the tie as clear favourites, but Arteta is relishing the challenge of knocking out the European kings.

“That’s why I came into football, that’s why I came into management and especially to this football club,” he said.

“It’s been 20 years since we had this type of game and for us, it’s a great opportunity to build our own story and this is what we’re here for.”