Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has dismissed suggestions that he is seeking revenge against Ruben Amorim as the Gunners prepare to host Manchester United in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
The match marks the first time the two managers will meet on opposite dugouts since Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon eliminated Arsenal from the Europa League in 2023.
Speaking during a pre-match press conference, Arteta was asked whether this encounter carried a sense of payback, given the history between the two coaches. He was quick to downplay the notion, emphasizing that football is about fresh opportunities rather than dwelling on the past.
“Not revenge,” Arteta stated firmly. “In football, it’s about another opportunity. It’s going to be very different.
We played against Sporting last week, and it was very different to two years ago. It has no meaning.”
Arsenal recently crossed paths with Amorim’s Sporting in the Champions League, where the London club put on a commanding display to secure a resounding 5-1 victory.
While that result served as a significant boost for Arteta’s team, he is keen to shift focus to the challenges ahead in the Premier League, particularly against a strong Manchester United side.
Reflecting on the Europa League clash from two years ago, Arteta acknowledged that much has changed since that night.
At the time, Arsenal were left frustrated after a tightly contested tie ended in Sporting’s favor, effectively ending their European campaign.
However, Arteta insists that the context and stakes of the upcoming match are entirely different, with no lingering emotional baggage.
