Arsene Wenger reacted to Arsenal reaching the Champions League final by claiming the trophy belongs at the Emirates Stadium, but he admitted PSG are strong opponents.
Tuesday night’s Champions League semi-final success over Atletico Madrid was a hugely positive and significant moment for the club, but also for its former employees.
Legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gave his reaction to the Gunners’ victory after the game, calling on the team to bring the trophy “home”.
“We had to wait for 20 years, but we came back,” Wenger said to beIN SPORTS. “This time, we have to bring this trophy home. It belongs at the Emirates, without this trophy it’s not completely finished. We have to finish the job.”
Yet Wenger admitted after PSG’s aggregate victory over Bayern Munich that the Parisian side will make for tough opponents in the final later this month, particularly given their attacking quality.
“I would outline the quality of PSG who have become a really complete team with great cohesion,” Wenger said.
“They also have another extraordinary quality, and that is that any striker in this team in a one-versus-one finishes with a shot on goal and it’s unstoppable.
“They make sure the goalkeeper has to make a save and that’s a formidable quality.”
Wenger was obviously the manager to take Arsenal to their first-ever Champions League final in 2006, but an early red card to Jens Lehmann gave the team a monumental task to beat Barcelona with 10 men.
Though Sol Campbell gave the Gunners the lead, it ultimately proved impossible to hold onto it in the second half, and Barcelona came back to win 2-1.
Arsenal will be looking to put that right on May 30th, as well as to take revenge on the PSG side that eliminated them at the semi-final stage last season.
- Arsenal women injury update ahead of BarcelonaArsenal Women have mixed injury news before Barcelona, with one expected return offset by fresh concerns and several players still facing fitness checks.
- Arteta reveals what is behind Madueke’s impressive Arsenal formNoni Madueke is starting to make a much bigger impression at Arsenal, and Mikel Arteta believes the winger’s recent form can be traced back to how he responded when opportunities were scarce.
- Arsene Wenger considering whether to enter FIFA president raceArsene Wenger is considering whether to run for FIFA president, as UEFA attempt to push him to do so.
- Hull players outnumber Arsenal in Team of the Week after Gunners winMore Hull City players than Arsenal players have been picked in the latest Team of the Week, despite the Gunners winning the match.
- Arsenal’s Marli Salmon receives England promotionArsenal’s Marli Salmon has been promoted to the England u19s, receiving the call-up before making his debut for the u18 side.