Mikel Arteta makes 'struggling' joke as Arsenal's Champions League status not yet confirmed

Arsenal are astir guaranteed a spot successful the Champions League circular of 16 and a bye from the play-offs but Mikel Arteta joked helium was inactive struggling with the permutations

Declan Rice acceptable Arsenal connected people for the past 16 by scoring their fastest Champions League extremity since 2014.

Only an improbable tally of results adjacent week, erstwhile Mikel Arteta ’s broadside look Girona away, would spot them driblet retired of the apical 8 and into the play-off places.

And Arteta, who saw Kai Havertz people the 500th extremity of his clip successful complaint earlier Martin Odegaard added a precocious third, joked that helium was “struggling” to get his caput astir the permutations.

“A batch of things person to hap [to driblet retired of the apical eight] but we inactive person to spell to Girona and bash a bully job,” Arteta said.

“I’m truly blessed overall. It's a monolithic measurement tonight, putting america successful a truly beardown position. We scored three, created plentifulness and didn't concede galore shots.”

Arteta besides hailed Rice, who recovered the nett aft conscionable 104 seconds, for a dynamic show that helium believes signals the midfielder is backmost to apical form. Rice has been dealing with a nagging ft wounded having started the run inactive feeling fatigued from past summer's Euros.

"The bully happening with Dec is he's truthful consistent, truthful reliable. He's ever there,” Arteta added. "His intent, purpose, particularly attacking, however he's driving with this ball. Today helium could person scored 2 goals.

“I’m precise blessed due to the fact that we request to impact the crippled from those positions. He is doing that.”

Rice, meanwhile, said that helium hopes the triumph tin assistance the Gunners physique momentum arsenic they question to adjacent the spread connected Liverpool successful the Premier League.

“What I learnt from past twelvemonth is that you request to beryllium determination oregon thereabouts astatine this clip of the play and we are astatine the minute,” Rice said.

"We request to support winning games. It's been a pugnacious period but we’ll support being positive."

Rice was besides pelted with a fig of missiles from Dinamo fans arsenic helium lined up to instrumentality country kicks with riot constabulary drafted successful during the 2nd half.

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