Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and his Paris St-Germain counterpart Luis Enrique have both sounded confident ahead of their clash in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
The Gunners host the first leg on Tuesday night, and Arteta is imploring the fans at the Emirates Stadium to cheer his side on to a big win.
Arsenal produced an inspired display to knock out holders and record 15-times winners Real Madrid in the quarter-finals 5-1 on aggregate.
“We have overcome a lot of issues and challenges this season, and the fact that the team is here as one of the best four teams in Europe, it says (a lot) about the mindset, the spirit and how much we really want it,” Arteta told reporters during his pre-match press conference on Monday.
“We are making history, and it’s a beautiful story right now, but we want more.”
It will be Arsenal’s third Champions League semi-final appearance and their first since they faced Manchester United in 2009.
“The players are really resonating with what we are doing, and they feel like we can face these guys and be better than them,” Arteta said.
“That’s the feeling we had against Madrid and in the previous rounds, and that’s how we feel today. I look them in the eyes and they can’t wait to play tomorrow, that’s the feeling.”
Arsenal, unbeaten for more than two months across all competitions, will hope to repeat their 2-0 win over PSG in the league phase in October.
“I loved (our) presence, how we went out there, our body language, the intensity, how aggressive we were,” Arteta said.
“We played with real belief and determination, and when you’re facing big opponents, immediately you need to put a game into that context.”
Arsenal will be without midfielder Thomas Partey, who serves a suspension after being booked against Real, as well as injured defender Riccardo Calafiori.
Defender Ben White and forward Mikel Merino, however, may return on Tuesday.
“We lost Thomas unfortunately very late in the game against Real Madrid,” Arteta said. “Ben and Mikel were able to train, let’s see if they are able to start tomorrow. (Calafiori) is still not fit.”
Asked whether Arsenal should be considered favourites to lift Europe’s most prestigious club trophy this year, Arteta said: “When you look at the history, no, because we’ve never done it.
“Hopefully, if someone believes we can do it it’s because of the performances and what is the team transmitting against big opposition.”
On his part, Enrique asserted on Monday that PSG will be a tougher proposition for Arsenal when the sides meet for a second time this season.
Goals by Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka led Arsenal to a comfortable 2-0 victory over PSG in a group game in October, with the French champions failing to impress.
PSG have since won their fourth straight Ligue 1 title, however, and reached the French Cup final as well as eliminating English Premier League champions Liverpool and Aston Villa en route to the Champions League’s final four.
Asked about PSG’s defeat by Arsenal in October, Luis Enrique told reporters: “That was seven or eight months ago. I saw the match again. We’re a much better team today.
“We had a very intense group phase, with a lot of games that could have been finals. So I think that made things difficult because we were in a difficult position, but it has made us much stronger and we are more complete.
“These are Champions League semi-finals, but they’re still two games between two teams with the same goal. The key will be managing the pressure.”
Arsenal are unbeaten at home in the Champions League this season and Enrique acknowledged they are tough opponents.
“They’re one of the best teams in Europe and they’ve been doing a remarkable job with their coach for several years now,” Enrique said.
“We all deserve to be here. I like my team the most, that’s why I’m here. Some people will like Paris more, others Arsenal, that’s part of life.”
Both Arsenal and PSG are bidding to win Europe’s elite club competition for the first time.
“The objective is difficult to achieve. That doesn’t mean we’re under any pressure, we’re ambitious,” Enrique added.
“When we say we want to make history, we’re talking about doing something that nobody has done before us. The team has a lot of confidence, and sometimes we’re less brilliant, but that’s part of life.
“PSG have never won the Champions League? Neither have Arsenal. We mustn’t let that stop us from performing at the highest level, we have to keep that in mind but concentrate on what we have to do.”
With agency report
