GUNNING FOR GLORY

Raya admits all eyes are on landing the biggest prize

- from TOM CANTON in Bilbao

IT IS shaping up to be a defining season for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.

The pressure was already at an all-time high prior to the club's major summer transfer spree, which saw eight players arrive and over £250m spent.

A record outlay and several first-team-ready players signed have only elevated expectations for Arteta.

For many, the missing piece to the puzzle was the signing of a striker and the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres, who scored six times in eight matches for Sporting Lisbon in the league phase of the European competition last season.

While Arteta might yet use a variety of options during the initial stages of the competition, it is hoped the Swede's contributions will be the difference for the team that reached the semifinals last time out.

Wins over Real Madrid, both home and away, have instilled a new level of confidence within the group.