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Champions League Semi-Final: Arsenal Host PSG in Quest for History

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Arsenal hosts PSG in the Champions League semi-final. Mikel Arteta faces his former mentor Luis Enrique. Get the latest updates.



Mikel Arteta faces a significant challenge as Arsenal host Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final first leg. Arteta's former mentor, Luis Enrique, now PSG manager, played a pivotal role in Arteta's development as a player and coach during their time at Barcelona.


Arteta aims to lead Arsenal to their second Champions League final appearance in history, overcoming the hurdle posed by his friend and influential figure Luis Enrique. Their connection dates back to Arteta's playing days at Barcelona, where Enrique was a senior player, shaping Arteta's managerial approach.


“He was extremely supportive with the young players, he was one of the main characters by far. I have really good memories of him,” Arteta said.


“What I love about him is wherever he's been, as a player or a manager, his fingerprints are all over the place.


“You can sense it's his team with the way his players behave, the way they want to attack and dominate games.”


Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta previously got the better of Luis Enrique's PSG with a 2-0 win in the Champions League group stage. However, PSG have since improved, partly due to Ousmane Dembele's resurgence after being dropped for disciplinary reasons, a bold move by Enrique that Arteta admires.


“I admire his honesty. He will look in your eyes and tell you what he thinks. In the end, players appreciate that,” Arteta said of Enrique. “An unbelievable personality, huge character, huge energy. I learnt a lot of things from him.”


Charged Matchday Experience

Mikel Arteta and Luis Enrique will put their friendship aside as Arsenal and PSG clash in the Champions League semi-finals, both seeking to deliver European glory to their clubs. Arsenal, who have never won the tournament, and PSG, who were beaten by Bayern Munich in the 2020 final, will battle for a historic triumph.




A win would cement Arteta's legacy in north London and silence questions about his ability to win major trophies. The Gunners have gone five years without silverware, with Arteta's FA Cup win being the only prize of his reign. Arsenal's confidence is high after a 5-1 aggregate thrashing of Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.


"For me he's one of the best coaches in the world and someone who helped me a huge amount. I have the utmost respect both for how he is as a person and his way of working."


The feeling is mutual, with Luis Enrique saying: “He is one of the best coaches at the moment.


“He changed Arsenal's fortunes from a somewhat winless streak to one of the best teams in the world that is competing for titles.”


Arsenal's Premier League form has been inconsistent, with a series of draws effectively handing the title to Liverpool. Injuries have hindered the team, with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus still sidelined. Despite this, Arsenal are focused on the Champions League semi-final against PSG.




PSG have made a habit of knocking out English teams, having already eliminated Liverpool and Aston Villa. The key for Arsenal could lie in recreating the electric atmosphere that helped them overcome Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. “With the home crowd behind us, there needs to be an electric atmosphere, and they will push us forward,” Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard said.


Leandro Trossard is likely to lead the attack against PSG, while Mikel Merino may shift back to midfield due to Thomas Partey's suspension. Trossard emphasized the importance of the fans' energy, saying, “We want the same as last time. The fans were incredible in the home game against Madrid. If we can do that again it would be amazing.”




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