Mikel Arteta continues to grapple with the emotional fallout from Arsenal’s heartbreaking Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. As his team prepares to face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night, he acknowledges that the loss still fuels his ambition for success in European competition.

When asked if he has moved on from the defeat, Arteta candidly stated, "I tried, but I haven’t managed to. I want it so badly." He emphasized the importance of taking things step by step but noted the fire within the team to reclaim their status as European champions.

Despite a strong start to the season with 10 wins out of 11 matches, the Gunners face criticism regarding their tactical approach. Arteta remains unfazed, asserting, "If you call that boring or irritating, I don’t know what to say." He insists that the team enjoys playing and is focused on winning.

Arsenal’s recent European journey has seen them progress from the quarter-finals to the final, and they previously defeated Bayern 3-1 last season. Arteta expressed excitement for the upcoming match, saying, "This is the stage, this is the kind of team, this is the kind of coach, this is the kind of club, the stadium that you want to be involved in."

In a twist, Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany might miss the match due to illness, with assistant Aaron Danks ready to step in. Arteta hopes for Kompany's recovery, praising him as a person and a coach, highlighting the impressive identity and quality his teams have shown in recent years.