Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal supporters to transform the Emirates Stadium into a fortress tonight, insisting their energy is essential if the club are to finally conquer Europe.
Arsenal host Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, just weeks after dismantling Real Madrid in an historic quarter-final. Having seen how the Emirates crowd lifted his players in the 3-0 win over Madrid, Arteta has called for an even greater effort against the French champions.
“It’s probably one of the biggest games at the Emirates since we built it,” Arteta said.
“We are making history, it’s a beautiful story right now but we want much more. More (noise than against Real Madrid). I’m not exaggerating when I say: Guys, bring your boots, bring your shorts, bring your shirts and let’s play every ball together.
“If we want to do something special, that place has to be something special, something we haven’t seen. I really hope everybody who comes to the Emirates brings that energy.”
Arsenal have never lifted the European Cup and last reached the final in 2006. For Arteta, the chance to write a new chapter in the club’s history is within reach.
“It’s an incredible opportunity,” he said. “We are here to make history and we are very close. Now we have to make it happen. We have a massive opportunity, as a club and fans, and it’s about who we are and how much we want it.”
The Gunners defeated PSG 2-0 earlier this season in the group stage but face a side rejuvenated under Luis Enrique, who warned, “I would like to remind you that Arsenal have not won the Champions League before and only one of us will get the ticket to the final and I hope that will be PSG.”
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli underlined the scale of the moment, calling it the biggest game of his career.
“It is a dream to be here,” he said. “Since I started playing football when I was five or six, I had this dream to be playing in the Champions League and to be in a semi-final, it is amazing.
“It is the opportunity of our lives. We deserve to be here and our mentality is to win.”