The boss of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, will have to beat one of the most influential figures of his football life when the Gunners will face Paris Saint-Germain of Luis Enrique in the semi-finals of the Champions League. The Arteta team welcomed PSG during the first leg on Tuesday while the Spaniard aims to lead Arsenal to the second appearance in the final of the Champions League in their history. Standing on his way is a close friend who, with the boss of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, played a major role in the impressive transition of his compatriot from the field to the canoe.
Luis Enrique was a senior star in Barcelona when Arteta began his player career at Camp Nou, a period that had a major impact on his management philosophy with Arsenal.
“He was extremely favorable to young players, he was by far one of the main characters. I have very good memories of him,” said Arteta.
“What I like about him is wherever he is, as a player or manager, his fingerprints are everywhere.
“You can feel that it is his team with the way his players behave, the way they want to attack and dominate the matches.”
The student has already been right for his mentor once this season, when Arsenal has softened to a 2-0 victory against PSG in the Emirates League phase in October.
But PSG has improved considerably since then, largely because Luis Enrique’s decision to drop Ousmane Dembele against Arsenal for disciplinary reasons inspired the superb form of the French striker.
It was the kind of merciless bet that Artata is ready to take itself.
“I admire his honesty. He will look in your eyes and tell you what he thinks. In the end, players appreciate him,” said Arteta.
“An incredible personality, a huge character, a huge energy. I learned a lot from him.
“For me, he is one of the best coaches in the world and someone who helped me a lot. I have the greatest respect for the way he is as a person and his way of working.”
The feeling is mutual, Luis Enrique saying: “He is one of the best coaches right now.
“He changed the fortune of Arsenal from a somewhat victory of a victory in one of the best world teams who are fighting for titles.”
“Electric atmosphere”
While Artata and Luis Enrique are sure to share a private moment together after equality, they will suspend their friendship to focus on the diffusion of the glory of the Champions League to their clubs.
Arsenal never won the tournament, losing against Barcelona in the 2006 final, while PSG has a recent tortured history, beaten by Bayern Munich in their only final in 2020.
The security of the European Saint-Graal would make Arteta Immortal in northern London and would banish all questions about its ability to gain major trophies.
The Gunners spent five years without silverware because Arteta won the only price of his reign in FA Cup.
Arsenal heads for the PSG tie embedded by their 5-1 jump-up of Total rejection of Real Madrid holders in the quarterfinals.
However, they flouted in the Premier League, effectively abandoning the title in Liverpool after a series of dull prints.
In the defense of Arteta, Arsenal was hampered by injuries for a large part of the season, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus still sidelined.
PSG has already eliminated Liverpool and Aston Villa, preparing them for a hat -trick of English hair leathers if they exceed Arsenal.
During their first semi-final of the Champions League since its loss against Manchester United in 2009, the key for Arsenal could reside in their ability to recreate the feverish atmosphere that swept Madrid in the last eight.
“With the crowd behind us, there must be an electric atmosphere, and they will grow us forward,” said Arsenal Leandro Trossard striker.
Trossard could lead the attack on PSG, the fortune striker Mikel Merino should return to the midfield in the absence of Thomas Parte suspended.
“We want the same time the last time. Fans were incredible in the home match against Madrid. If we can do it again, it would be incredible,” said Trossard.
(This story has not been published by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a unionized flow.)
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