WE NEED A LIFT

EVEN in carnival season, Mikel Arteta was in a very serious mood.

- JOHN CROSS

It is, after all, the business end of the Champions League and Europe is Arsenal's last chance of success in a season which promised much but is in danger of delivering nothing.

Arsenal arrived in Eindhoven - renamed Lampegat for the annual five-day festival - to find all the locals in fancy dress, boozing and generally painting the town red. It all feels a bit surreal.

But Arsenal want to play party poopers and spoil the mood against PSV even if Arteta seemed intent on playing down expectation levels ahead of their last 16 clash.

Earlier in the season, Arteta talked about big ambitions in Europe, wanting to go all the way and yet they have had a serious dip after failing to score in their last two games because of the striker injury crisis.

Defeat to West Ham and a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest has virtually put paid to Arsenal's title hopes. Their season is in danger of flatlining.