Luis Enrique will take on Mikel Arteta when PSG face Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final and claimed that the Gunners boss enjoys a notable advantage over him
Luis Enrique previously underlined how Mikel Arteta’s lengthy Arsenal tenure gives him an advantage when they come up against PSG. Arteta is into his fifth full season at the Emirates and has fully embedded his philosophy ahead of his side’s Champions League semi-final against the French side.
It will be the second time they’ve faced each other this season. Back in the autumn Arsenal secured a 2-0 win over the Ligue 1 outfit, who failed to mount much of a challenge in north London.
Since then PSG have excelled, claiming the French title again, but also knocking out Liverpool and Aston Villa in the Champions League. Enrique has got his team purring as they peak at the business end of the season.
But back in October, when PSG were well beaten at Arsenal, Enrique appeared to suggest that it was obvious that Arteta’s side would beat them given how far along they are in their development.
He said: ” Mikel Arteta has been managing Arsenal for five or six years. I’ve been managing that team for one year and two months. I don’t know where we are, I have a clear idea on where I want to be, but I don’t know how much time I’m going to need.”
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The Champions League is Arsenal’s sole hope of winning any silverware this year having fallen short domestically. Arteta is coming under increasing pressure to deliver a trophy following several near misses as well as being allowed to spend millions on player transfers.
PSG meanwhile have finally clicked into gear with Ousmane Dembele leading their attack. The January signing of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has further bolstered their frontline whilst the likes of Vitinha and Nuno Mendes are regularly producing. Enrique has also claimed he knows all about the threat Arsenal will pose ahead of the first-leg at the Emirates.
“Did I already start analysing Arsenal? No, because I already know Arsenal perfectly,” he told reporters. “For a very long time, it’s a team I’ve followed. For the rest, the qualities we have, the faults we have, are the same. We can improve, yes, but if you focus on what’s negative, that’s your problem. We don’t do that.
“Of course we want to improve, but there is no perfect team and we won’t be either. We’re coming to a great moment in the season because we’re obsessed with the Champions League. We’re going to have a great version of PSG against Arsenal.”
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