Arteta Urges Arsenal to Mount 'Special' Comeback Against PSG

Mikel Arteta remains optimistic about Arsenal's chances, urging his team to mount a remarkable comeback in the second leg at the Parc des Princes on May 7th.

Mikel Arteta is calling on Arsenal to mount a remarkable comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final. After losing the first leg 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta wants his team to produce a “special” performance in France to overturn the deficit. Ousmane Dembélé's early goal proved decisive, with Arsenal unable to capitalize on their chances despite dominating parts of the match.

PSG had two clear opportunities to seal the tie in the final stages but Goncalo Ramos hit the bar and Bradley Barcola shot wide from close range. Arsenal also created chances, particularly after adjusting to PSG's early pressure, but Gianluigi Donnarumma made crucial saves to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

Unlike their previous rounds against PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid, where Arsenal secured substantial first-leg leads, the Gunners now face a tougher challenge. They'll need an epic performance in the second leg at the Parc des Princes on May 7 to reach their first Champions League final since 2006.

Mikel Arteta remains optimistic about Arsenal's chances despite the 1-0 deficit, believing it's far from impossible for his team to win the second leg at the Parc des Princes. “We are at half-time, and my message is exactly the same as it was after we beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of the quarter-final,” Arteta said, highlighting his confidence in Arsenal's ability to mount a comeback.

“We have to go to Paris and win the game, and we are more than capable of doing it.

“If you want to win the Champions League final, you have to do something special, and we are going to have to do something special in Paris to be there. We still have a lot of chances to be in that final.”

Arsenal faced a challenging start, risking becoming the latest English team to struggle against PSG. However, Mikel Arteta made a tactical adjustment at halftime, which he believes helped the team regain control. This change seemed to shift the momentum in Arsenal's favor, allowing them to better cope with PSG's experienced side, who had previously eliminated Liverpool and Aston Villa and beaten Manchester City in the league phase.

“We need to go to Paris and win the game.”

Mikel Arteta’s message to his Arsenal players is clear 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/NIPs6IRYe2

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Margins are razor-thin

“We had one issue. We corrected it after 15 minutes and we turned the game around. There was something very specific with the way we play that we had to get right,” he said.

“We had two one-on-ones with Donnarumma and if they go in, it is a different story.

“But he made the saves, and that's the difference in the Champions League. The margins are so small, and it didn't go our way.”

PSG's 1-0 win puts them in a strong position as they aim to win the Champions League for the first time. While the tie is far from decided, Luis Enrique's team demonstrated quality in possession, suggesting they can build on their lead in Paris.

"They have to be relieved we didn't score two or three."

Mikel Arteta reflects on a game of fine margins against PSG in the opening leg of the Champions League semi-finals. 🤏

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Luis Enrique praised the electric atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium, saying, “There was an incredible atmosphere inside the stadium, it was deafening, but we got off to a wonderful start and the early goal gave us a boost of confidence.”

Luis Enrique acknowledged the match's pivotal moments, saying, “The game was littered with chances. It could have been better, it could have been worse. We had 10 or 15 minutes when the opponent could have snatched the game away from us but it didn't happen.” Despite the win, he remains aware of Arsenal's threat and doesn't intend to underestimate them ahead of the second leg.

“It is mission accomplished for this evening. But our objective is to win the second leg at home,” he said.

“With Arsenal we cannot let our guard down or be complacent because they can score quickly and we are back to square one.

“They are a team that can completely rewrite history in a second with a goal.

“Nothing is in the bag. We need to win when we are at home because Arsenal now have nothing to lose.”