Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal to use 'rage' from Bournemouth loss as fuel against PSG

Arsenal looked set to build on their momentum when Declan Rice opened the scoring in the first half, marking his 100th appearance for the club with a clinical strike. However, a lapse in concentration after the break allowed Bournemouth to strike twice in quick succession, leaving the Gunners stunned and Arteta scrambling for answers.

The result means Arsenal are trailing PSG 1-0 from the first leg at home, and with only a few days to reset, Arteta is adamant that the anger and frustration from the weekend's defeat should fuel their fight for a Champions League final spot.

"It wasn't the result we needed, but it's given us something powerful - rage," Arteta said, his voice full of determination. "That bad feeling in our stomach? We're going to use it. The anger has to drive us to perform at our best in Paris, to win the game and get to the final."

The loss to Bournemouth derailed what Arteta had hoped would be a smooth run into the PSG tie, with Arsenal needing a victory to boost confidence ahead of the high-stakes encounter. With just two changes made from the first leg against PSG, Arteta kept his team sharp but now faces uncertainty over the availability of defender Jurrien Timber, who missed the Bournemouth match and whose fitness will be crucial to Arsenal's defensive plans for Paris.

"Can I be confident Timber will play? Right now, no," Arteta admitted. "He wasn't fit for Saturday, and we've only got four days to get him ready. We're in a tough spot."

With the Premier League season winding down, Arsenal's focus has to be dual: securing a Champions League spot next season and advancing in Europe. Currently sitting in a precarious position, the Gunners need six points from their final three league games to ensure qualification, making the Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday and the following fixture against Newcastle pivotal. Arteta is acutely aware of the balancing act required to keep both hopes alive.

"We can't ignore the league," Arteta stressed. "We still haven't sealed second place, and we're not mathematically in the Champions League yet. We've got a lot of work left to do."

As the team prepares for their trip to Paris, Arteta's message is clear: this is more than just a semifinal - it's a chance to turn a painful defeat into the fuel for a historic comeback. Arsenal may be feeling the sting of the Bournemouth loss, but if Arteta's rallying cry is anything to go by, the Gunners will take that anger to Paris with the aim of rewriting their season.

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