Mikel Arteta is preparing for the biggest night of his managerial career so far as his Arsenal side head into a mouthwatering UEFA Champions League quarter-final against the competition's most successful club, Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants have won the tournament a record 15 times, including last season when they defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the final. By contrast, Arsenal haven't reached the semi-finals since 2008/09.
When asked at his pre-match press conference if Tuesday's first leg at Emirates Stadium will be his biggest night in management, Arteta replied: "100 per cent.
"It's a joy to prepare the game, to look at the reaction of people, and how we feel about ourselves coming into a game of this magnitude and the excitement around the club.
"This is proper now, the last stages of the competition. This is where we want to be and where Arsenal have to be consistently. We are very proud to be there and we're very ready to deliver tomorrow."
Arteta agreed with a reporter's suggestion that prestigious matches like this are a motivation for working in the beautiful game.
"That's why I came into football," the Spaniard concurred.
"That's why I came into management and especially to this football club. It's been [almost] 20 years since we had this type of game and for us it's a great opportunity to build our own story, and this is what we're here for."
Arsenal's only previous competitive meeting with Real Madrid was in 2006, when Arsene Wenger masterminded a 1-0 aggregate win in the last 16. The Gunners went on to reach their first and only Champions League final, losing 2-1 to Barcelona.
"That [2006 tie] is an inspiration for sure because what [that] generation achieved is what we want to achieve certainly," said Arteta.
"It's a very different context. Twenty years is a long time in football and unfortunately it's too far to be very relevant to the situation that we are in. But there are things to take from there and be inspired by, for sure."
Arsenal fans need to 'play the game with us'
As well as asking his players to deliver a top performance against Real Madrid, the Arsenal manager is calling for the club's home supporters to do the same.
"We're going to put all the ingredients, everything that is in our hands, to play the game that we want and to take the game in the direction that we want," said Arteta.
"In order to achieve that, we're going to need our people [fans] playing every single ball with us. That's going to make a huge difference because that's something that is really needed.
"You need your home stadium to create a very, very special atmosphere to generate momentum. I encourage everybody to go there tomorrow to play the game with us. Not to be there [just] watching it, but to play the game with us."
Saka: It's a dream to win the Ballon d'Or
Like his manager, Bukayo Saka also considers the Real Madrid match to be the biggest of his club career - "I think in an Arsenal shirt, it probably will be, yes" - and is excited by the trappings of Champions League success, including the chance to win the Ballon d'Or.
"It's a dream [to win it]," admitted Saka, referencing the annual award that is often won by a player from the Champions League-winning club.
"I think it's a dream for a lot of players. I'm just working hard to do my best for my team."
Playing against Real Madrid is something Saka "most definitely" dreamed of as a kid.
"It's a very big night and the stakes are high against one of the best teams in the competition," he added. "So I think it’s a game that I definitely want to be involved in.
"It would mean a lot to us [to win the tie]. It's the first time the club has been in back-to-back Champions League quarter-finals for a while now so tomorrow night we want to take the next step and try to get over the line.
"It's Real Madrid, you have to respect them and accept what they've done in their history but we can't focus too much on that. Tomorrow, anything can happen."
Arsenal team news
Saka has only just returned to action following a hamstring injury that kept him out for 101 days. He came on as a substitute in Saturday's draw at Everton, having done the same a few days earlier against Fulham when he scored in Arsenal's 2-1 win.
"Gradually, we have built his minutes in the last six or seven days," said Arteta. "He's in a good place to be able to be used [against Real Madrid]."
Arteta reported that another recent absentee, Ben White, was "fine after the game" at Everton where he played for the first 61 minutes, and the substitute who replaced him, Jurrien Timber, will "hopefully be in the best condition to play".
The manager also said "we've decided" how to replace centre-back Gabriel, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to the hamstring injury he suffered against Fulham.
