'We Will Be European Champions' - Luis Enrique Reacts to Arteta's Arsenal Claim

Luis Enrique speaks to media

Luis Enrique praised Arsenal’s Premier League win and Mikel Arteta ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final. The PSG coach says both teams are heading to the same destination via different paths.

Champions League final 2026, best defence vs best attack as PSG face Arsenal...

Luis Enrique says PSG and Arsenal have reached the Champions League final in Budapest on Saturday via “different routes,” but neither team has the edge. The PSG boss praised Mikel Arteta’s Premier League-winning side, pointed to the similarities between the clubs, and said no extra motivation is needed.

Luis Enrique opened his press conference by paying tribute to former teammate Arteta and the title Arsenal won in the Premier League.

“I’m not surprised he took them to the title. They are worthy of winning the Premier League, they were consistent. It wasn't easy with Man City on their tail, but they deserve the title.

“In six-and-a-half years, he knows the ins and outs of Arsenal,” Luis Enrique said, and compared the styles of the two finalists.

“It's not two different ideas,” Luis Enrique said when asked about Arsenal’s top-ranked Champions League defence versus PSG’s most prolific attack. “They score a lot too and we defend well as well. We’re heading to the same place, just by different paths.”

  

PSG and Arsenal have met three times in the last two years. PSG won the last two, home and away in last season’s semi-finals.

🎙️ Luis Enrique : « On a souffert, on en avait besoin, mais on arrive à nouveau en finale. Il faut profiter de ce type de matchs. » 💬#PSGARS I #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/48BZW0toFq

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) May 29, 2026

But they aren't taking preparations for the final lightly. “We’ve spent time analysing an opponent that we know very well, we’ve played against them a few times.

“There are always things you can fine-tune and that’s what we do in our sessions. Managing the final is always different, and you have to make the most of it,” Luis Enrique said.

“Final’s always a difficult game. Last year was exceptional, we dominated against Inter. In the final tomorrow, I don’t think there’s a favourite, honestly. For us, the devil’s in the detail. We’ll have to give it our all for all 90 minutes, but always enjoy those 90 minutes.”

Luis Enrique was also asked about a leaked clip from Arsenal’s title party, where Arteta confidently told the crowd “We will be European champions on Saturday.” The PSG coach said his team doesn’t need bulletin-board material like that for extra motivation.

“I don’t think there’s any better motivation than winning the Champions League. The rest is just strategy. We’ve both won our respective leagues, now I'm focused on what’s best for our team in the final,” he said.

“We’re trying to stay concentrated on what’s important. We have already gone down in the history books as one of the best teams in the world, and we want to repeat it,” he added.

This season Arsenal are chasing what PSG chased 12 months ago - a first-ever Champions League crown. “Yes, winning it for the first time is huge motivation, but defending it is even bigger,” Luis Enrique said with a smile.

📋 The squad for the final! ⚔️🔴🔵#UCL pic.twitter.com/7Zon8q9KZi

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) May 29, 2026