Mikel Arteta shares honest verdict after finding out Arsenal’s road to Champions League success

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Arsenal are preparing to get back into the swing of fighting on two fronts in both the Premier League and in Europe.

Arsenal will face PSV Eindhoven in the last-16 of the Champions League having secured automatic passage into the phase with a top eight finish in the initial league stage.

The Gunners should not underestimate the Dutch side given that PSV have embarrassed Arsenal before at the same stage in the competition.

Arsenal’s route to the final is tough and the fans have been writing the Gunners off following the draw that could see Real Madrid and Liverpool play at the Emirates Stadium should they progress.

READ MORE: Arsenal’s worrying record against Dutch teams revealed ahead of Champions League draw

Mikel Arteta shares his thoughts on Arsenal’s last-16 opponents PSV Eindhoven

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal v West ham in the Premier League, Gunners boss Arteta was asked about his thoughts on the Champions League draw.

Arteta stated: “We’ve played against them and they are a really good team, we have experienced it and it will be very difficult like any other Champions League result.”

The Spaniard then declared that his side would be ready for the challenge of the Dutch side and other side beyond that in Europe’s elite competition.

Arteta explained: “We know what we are facing when you are at this stage, every team is really really good and when the time comes we will be ready for it.”

Arsenal faced PSV twice in Arteta’s debut season in the Champions League

Arsenal returned to the Champions League last season following an absence of seven seasons and face PSV in the group stages.

It was Arteta’s first appearance in the competition as a manager and the Gunners romped to a 4-0 win at the Emirates with goals coming from Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and skipper Martin Odegaard.

The return game in Eindhoven saw the Gunners make several changes having already qualified for the next stage but managed to grind out a 1-1 draw with Eddie Nketiah opening the scoring.

A repeat of those results would do Arsenal just fine this season as they look to make further progress from their quarter final appearance last campaign.