‘It’s been 14 years’: Arteta sends rallying message to Arsenal fans ahead of Porto clash

Mikel Arteta has again called on Arsenal fans to create a big atmosphere when Porto visit Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night as the Gunners look to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2010.

Arsenal enter the second leg needing to overturn a one-goal deficit and the manager has made it clear the crowd can play a big part in the biggest game of the season.

“I think the impact they can make tomorrow is incredible,” he told his pre-game press conference. “I don’t think that they really realise, so we need that noise and we need them playing every single ball with us.

“We need that emotion controlled as well to understand that the game can go through certain phases and we have to be really intelligent to push in the right moments to get what we want.

“It is a beautiful opportunity to live these nights – it’s been 14 years so everything that we put in is going to be worth it.”

He added: “That’s the opportunity that we have tomorrow, in front of our people and in our stadium. For 96 minutes bring your energy, bring your noise and let’s do it together.”

So excited is he by the occasion, Arteta even joked about pulling on his boots for the first time since retiring in 2016.

“I want to go out there and play! That’s the feeling that we have; that it is a joy to be part of this club and enjoy being a part of these kind of games. Tomorrow is going to be a great night.”