Sevilla manager eyes Arsenal Champions League revenge after 'unfair' defeat in group stage clash

Sevilla boss Diego Alonso has thrown down the gauntlet to Arsenal by claiming his side were on the end of an «unfair result» in their previous clash and will look to turn around that defeat as the two sides prepare to face off in the Champions League once again on Wednesday night. It comes as the Gunners are in the box seat to progress to the knockout stages.

At the halfway stage in the groups, the north London outfit have topped the group with six points, followed by RC Lens on five, Sevilla on two and PSV Eindhoven also on two. With Sevilla their next opponents, Arsenal could push themselves towards the knockout rounds with a win, but defeat would leave the group wide open.

Discussing the importance of the clash,Mikel Arteta told reporters: «The more you have a chance in football to put it to bed, do it, we're gonna have to do a lot of things right tomorrow and then the right to win it against a really good team which enormous experience in this competition. We have to prove it tomorrow in front of our people how excited we are to play that game and what it means for us.»

The Gunners do have the advantage given their points tally and their previous match with Sevilla, which ended in a 2-1 victory in Spain. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus put the side into a two-goal lead before Nemanja Gudelj pulled one back to make for a competitive ending, but the away side saw out the victory.

Given the back-to-back defeats in the Premier League and Carabao Cup, Arteta will be keen to find some form while making their way out of the groups. For Sevilla, their hopes are to save their knockout stage ambitions or they face the possibility of the Europa League or no Europe at all for the rest of the season.

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