Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has given his thoughts on Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, after booking his team’s place in a Champions League final against the Gunners.
Paris Saint-Germain edged past Bayern Munich in Wednesday night’s Champions League semi-final second leg, drawing 1-1 on the night to secure a 6-5 aggregate victory and progression to the final.
Arsenal had already qualified for the final the previous day, seeing off Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate, so the two finalists will meet for the fourth time in two seasons.
The Gunners defeated PSG in last season’s League Phase, only to lose home and away to the French side in the knockouts. They’ll now have an opportunity for revenge in Budapest on May 30th.
Speaking to the media after his team’s win, Luis Enrique had positive things to say about Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side.
“I appreciate Mikelito Arteta,” Enrique said (via The Mirror and Sky Sports). “We used to be team-mates when we were kids, he did a great job at Arsenal. It will be a difficult, hard game but we believe in our football style.
“Arsenal, one of the best teams this season. What they did throughout the season has been incredible. They are stilll playing for the Premier League and they are in the (Champions League) final. That’s something we need to appreciate.
“But I have so much confidence in my team and I think it’s important to value them.”
Aided by a national league more than willing to move fixtures around to give PSG extra rest, the team have had a strong knockout-stage run. After narrowly eliminating Monaco 5-4 on aggregate, they eased past Chelsea 8-2 and Liverpool 4-0, before getting the better of Bayern 6-5.
Enrique’s team clearly don’t struggle to score goals, but they haven’t done so well at keeping them out. They’ve kept five clean sheets to Arsenal’s nine, and let in 22 goals to Arsenal’s six (two of which were conceded with backup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks).
It’s going to be an intriguing battle of contrasting styles at the end of May, and Arsenal fans will certainly be looking forward to it.