According to Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s lack of experience was a big factor in their failure to move on in the Champions League.
The heartbreaking conclusion of the Gunners’ European odyssey came in the 65th minute when Joshua Kimmich’s header against Bayern Munich in Germany gave them a 1-0 setback.
The Bavarians’ dominance proved too much for Mikel Arteta’s team, who were hoping to make their first semifinal appearance in the championship since 2009.
The Spanish manager expressed regret for his team’s lack of experience in the loss and pledged to love and support the players.
Arteta said: “We haven’t played this competition for seven years and we haven’t been in this stage for 14 years.There’s a reason for it.
“We want to do everything fast-forward, super-quick, in one season. I think we have the capacity and the quality to be in the semi-final because the margins are very small.
“Those margins are coming from something else that maybe we don’t have yet. We have to learn it.
“When you look historically, it took other clubs seven, eight or 10 years to do it. Today, that’s not going to make us feel better that’s for sure.
“What I need to do is stand right next to them and give them support and our love and we have to pick it up because on Saturday we have a big, big game.
“We are still playing for the Premier League. The Premier League is there and we really want it. We have to show now that we are capable of turning this around.”
Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League title were severely damaged by their 2-0 loss to Aston Villa on Sunday, capping off a disastrous week for the team.
In order to pass Manchester City in the Premier League standings, Arteta will be hoping that the players can move past their disappointing Champions League exit.
The Gunners will bid farewell to their title hopes if they lose their match against Wolves on Saturday at the Molineux.
