Mikel Arteta has backed his Arsenal side to thrive under pressure as they prepare for a crucial Champions League quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP. The Gunners travel to Portugal looking to respond after a difficult period that saw their hopes of domestic cup silverware evaporate.

Following the international break, Arsenal's momentum was checked by back-to-back defeats. First, a Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City ended a six-year wait for a trophy, before a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Championship side Southampton dashed treble dreams. These results have inevitably invited external scrutiny and questions about the team's mentality.

However, Arteta remains defiant, framing the criticism as a standard part of life at a top club. "That's in football," he stated in his pre-match press conference. "From the first game of the season, that's going to be questioned: What about Arsenal this season?... There's always going to be a question mark and that's it. You have to live the present, you have to deliver it every day."

The manager emphasized that the relentless demand for excellence is woven into the club's identity. Despite the recent setbacks, Arsenal's season remains promising, with the team firmly in a Premier League title race and now navigating the latter stages of Europe's premier competition. Tonight's match in Lisbon represents a prime opportunity to shift the narrative and prove their resilience on a major stage.