Kieran Gibbs now states which competition Mikel Arteta will prioritise for Arsenal glory

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Arsenal are competing in the Premier League title race as well as the Champions League quarter-finals and may fancy their chances at winning both.

Mikel Arteta’s side are embroiled in a tight battle for top spot with Manchester City and Liverpool, and will have to balance their domestic fixtures with their two-legged tie against Bayern Munich in Europe.

Arsenal drew 2-2 at the Emirates in the first leg as they attempt to reach the Champions League semi-finals, and will travel to Munich for the second leg next week. However, they will first face Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, and will need to secure all three points to reclaim their position at the top after Man City beat Luton.

It appears that Arteta will use his squad to compete for both trophies, but his former teammate Kieran Gibbs has claimed that he may prioritise one competition over the other instead.

READ MORE: Arsenal’s possible route to 2023/24 Champions League final

Kieran Gibbs believes Mikel Arteta will prioritise Premier League over Champions League

Speaking to ESPN FC, the former left-back, who won trophies alongside Arteta, claimed that the Arsenal boss is likelier to prioritise the Premier League over the Champions League for the rest of the season.

“It depends how well you’re doing in each competition. There were some seasons where we would have a great run in the Champions League, but we were doing terribly in the league, and then the other way round,” Gibbs stated of his playing days at Arsenal.

“I think it is it can be difficult, depending on who you’re playing an what the run-in looks like, but I think for me right now, Mikel’s focus is clearly going to be – I mean I don’t know – but I’m going to say it’s going to be on the league.

“The Champions League would be special to win obviously, but the league is something that has been a long time coming, we’ve been so close over the last couple of seasons. Seven games away, you’re thinking he’s got his eyes on the league.”

Should Arteta prioritise the Premier League over the Champions League?

Right now, Arsenal need to focus on each individual game as they come, rather than prioritising either competition.

Rotation will be essential, and Arteta may have to rest Ben White and Jorginho with the Munich clash in mind, but he cannot afford to drop too many key players against a dangerous Aston Villa side.

Any dropped points in the league would be damaging at this point, and the Bayern tie is on a knife-edge with the scores level.

If Arsenal do progress past Bayern, they will face one of Man City or Real Madrid, whilst contending with tough Premier League fixtures, and it would be some feat if Arteta is able to navigate both competitions to find glory in at least one.