Mikel Arteta, who hopes to guide Arsenal into the Champions League knockout stages on Wednesday, acknowledges that he still has plenty to prove as a manager in European competition.

The Gunners take on Lens at the Emirates with the knowledge that a point would guarantee a berth in the round of 16 while victory would guarantee first place in Group B.

Apart from a trip to the semifinals in 2020–21, Arteta failed in Europa League knockout matches throughout his first few years in the team.

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However, he guided Arsenal back into the Champions League after a seven-year break.

Asked if he has something to prove in Europe, he replied: “For sure.

“I think it is not that we have to prove, we had to come back into Europe being the club we want to be, have that presence and the results that tell them we are back in a strong way.

“We haven’t done that yet and it needs to be done.”

Arsenal is almost guaranteed to make it to the next round, while rivals Manchester United and Newcastle in the Premier League are still unsure if their European campaigns will last into Christmas.

When asked if qualification should be taken for granted, Arteta replied: “100% not.

“You have to sweat, dig in a lot and play well in games to deserve to win them. We are playing against really tough opponents.

“PSV [Eindhoven] have won all of their games in their league, they have only lost against us.

“Sevilla is a very tough place to go and tomorrow is going to be a really difficult game but hopefully we can be better than them.

“I am enjoying it, is a great feeling. It makes you proud, it makes you feel that it is the level the club should be at and we are competing really well so let’s continue to do so.”

Arsenal is almost guaranteed to make it to the next round, while rivals Manchester United and Newcastle in the Premier League are still unsure if their European campaigns will last into Christmas.