PSG head coach Luis Enrique(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Luis Enrique begins Arsenal Champions League mind games with clear PSG message to Mikel Arteta

by · football.london

PSG head coach Luis Enrique has insisted that he knows Arsenal 'like the back of his hand' ahead of their meeting in the Champions League semi-finals next week.

The Gunners welcome the French club to the Emirates Stadium looking to benefit from a couple of bonuses. Mikel Arteta's side were handed a fortunate free weekend thanks to Crystal Palace's involvement in the FA Cup semi-finals and they enter the match knowing they can beat this PSG team.

Back in October, Arsenal beat the Parisians 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. PSG have since moved from strength-to-strength after a rough league phase, knocking Liverpool and Aston Villa out of the competition in their run to the last four.

However, their preparations did take a knock on Friday night when they lost 3-1 to Nice but Enrique insisted in his press conference that he is not concerned by that result. "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." In a later interview, Enrique added: "Based on what I saw, I’m signing up straight away for Tuesday in London and the return leg.

"Not for the result, obviously, but I saw a team that had 30 chances to score. I’m not worried at all.

"We attacked, didn’t calculate, and we came up against a goalkeeper who made some incredible saves. We are the best team in France, by far, we proved it.

"We have to be brave now and think about winning the Champions League." The winners of the tie, which culminates in Paris on Wednesday, May 7, will face either Barcelona or Inter in the Munich final next month.


Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel

Join our Arsenal WhatsApp channel and get all the latest breaking news, opinion, podcasts and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers straight to your phone!

By following this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens, when it happens.

To join our dedicated Arsenal channel, all you have to do is click this link and you can join thousands of others following our Gunners coverage!

If you're curious, you can check out our privacy policy here.