Europa League

Petr Cech talks up importance of winning Europa League

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 14 April 2018

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech admits that "there is a big responsibility for everyone" at the club to go all the way in this season's Europa League.

Petr Cech has confessed that winning the Europa League to claim a backdoor entrance into next season's Champions League is vital for Arsenal.

The Gunners are 13 points adrift of the top four in the Premier League and now relying on the European competition to salvage their campaign.

Thursday night's 2-2 draw with CSKA Moscow in Russia was enough for Arsenal to progress through 6-3 on aggregate, setting up a two-legged semi-final with Atletico Madrid later this month.

Cech admits that his side must now seize the chance to get into the Champions League, while at the same time adding some silverware to their collection.

"There's a big responsibility for everyone as we know it is difficult in the league," he is quoted as saying by The Sun. "Someone would have to have a meltdown in the last seven games to give us an opportunity to sneak into the top four.

"This is our chance to book our Champions League spot. But not only that, you play a European competition for a cup - and one the club has never won. So this is a chance to add a great trophy to the cabinet. You need to keep the progression by winning things.

"The start of the game [against CSKA] was not what we planned. But in any European competition, you just need to play well enough to go through. This is more important than beautiful football."

Red Bull Salzburg and Marseille will face off in the other semi-final.