Mikel Arteta speaks to TNT Sports, starting on that tough journey. “We cannot control it, We had to stay together and we had a good time. We will play a beautiful game today, It’s a big night, a really good test. [On Trossard and Tomiyasu coming in] The way we aim to play, giving minutes, everyone deserves a chance to play. It will be a very intense game on high press, a lot of situations, a lot of transition moments.”

It wasn’t easy in transit for Arsenal to get to France.

Mikel Arteta and his squad were waiting in the private terminal at Luton airport well into Monday evening after their plane, which had been due to depart at 4.15pm, was grounded because of adverse weather. They eventually flew just after 9pm.

It meant arrangements for their first away outing in this competition for six-and-a-half years were thrown into chaos, with Arteta being forced to cancel his mandatory media commitments and the prospect of a late arrival in France meaning a hasty change of schedule.

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