Luis Enrique has warned Mikel Arteta he is ready to land his fourth Premier League scalp of this season’s Champions League ahead of Arsenal’s semi-final showdown against Paris St Germain.
PSG saw off Manchester City in the group stages before beating Liverpool on penalties in the last 16, and then knocking out Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.
Arsenal secured a statement 2-0 win against PSG at the Emirates in October, but when asked if fending off Liverpool and Villa provides the French side with a trump card over English opposition, Enrique replied: “Maybe that is a question for Mr Arteta, but in terms of our confidence, it is very positive for us.
“We beat Liverpool and they won the Premier League this year. But that doesn’t mean anything because every single match is different.
“Everybody speaks about the Premier League as being the best league in the world. I don’t know if I agree or not. But we are full confidence and looking forward to playing in the semi-final.”
Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka were both on target for Arsenal when they beat Enrique’s side at the Emirates back in October.
PSG were without star man Ousmane Dembele for the group-stage fixture after Enrique dropped him for failing to “comply or respect the expectations of the team”.
However, Dembele, who scored in PSG’s win at Anfield – one of 29 strikes for the Ligue 1 side this season – is back in favour and due to start for the French champions in the first leg on Tuesday.
PSG, like Arsenal, are bidding to win the Champions League for the first time.
And Enrique added: “The last game took place on October 1 so that was seven or eight months ago, and there are huge differences between now and then.
“I have reviewed the game, and seen how far our game has come and we are better now. We are a more complete team and our next objective is to rewrite history and there is only one way to do that.
“Is Arsenal the best team we have come up against? One of the best teams, yes, without a shadow of a doubt. They are second in the Premier League and that has been the case for the past three seasons.
“We have seen some remarkable work here at Arsenal with a coach that has now been here for six years. I don’t know if it is the best team, but it is certainly one of the best teams (that PSG have faced).
“But I would like to remind you that Arsenal has not won the Champions League before, and only one of us will get the ticket to the final over the two legs. I hope that will be PSG.”
Jude Bellingham is confident Real Madrid can overturn a 3-0 first-leg Champions League deficit against Arsenal on Wednesday to book their place in the last four.Real were left stunned by the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium last week after Declan Rice scored two outstanding free-kicks to leave Carlo Ancelotti’s side with a mountainous task.But 15-time European champions Real have produced som...
Paris St Germain boss Luis Enrique admitted his side would not be intimidated by a hostile atmosphere at Aston Villa as they looked to finish the job in their Champions League quarter-final.The Ligue 1 champions travel to Birmingham with a 3-1 advantage from last week’s first leg in Paris and are heavy favourites to progress to the last four.But they will face a sterner test on Tuesday as th...
Arsenal forward Alessia Russo has silverware in her sights as she prepares to take on Real Madrid in the first Champions League quarter-final of her career.The in-form England international is the second highest scorer in the Women’s Super League this season with 10 goals and has also registered five times in Europe.Arsenal – the only English club to have won the Champions League, foll...
Paris St Germain head coach Luis Enrique believes the team which prevails in their last-16 tie against Liverpool at Anfield will be Champions League finalists.PSG trail 1-0 from their first leg despite a dominant display at the Parc des Princes but the former Barcelona boss is confident they can turn things around on Tuesday.“The most important game is the one which comes next and I hope it ...
Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor believes her side will be “desperate” to earn a good result in their midweek Women’s Super League clash with Leicester at Kingsmeadow.The Blues dropped points for only the second time in the league this season after Lauren James’ second-half equaliser rescued a point in a 2-2 draw with Brighton at the weekend.The defending champions mainta...
Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid will appeal to reduce the length of Jude Bellingham’s ban following his sending off against Osasuna.The England international was shown a straight red card for foul and abusive language during a 1-1 draw last Saturday and received a two-match suspension.The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has already rejected an appeal to reverse the ban, but Ancelotti sai...
Man City travel to Aston Villa on Saturday desperate for victoryCityzens fell further into crisis with late Manchester derby defeatVillans hoping to further punish miserable Man City formManchester City make the challenging trip to Aston Villa on Saturday in the Premier League as they desperately look to end their three-game winless run.Last weekend's late and embarrassing defeat to local rivals M...
Team newsCrystal Palace will be without Eberechi Eze, who injured his hip in the midweek EFL defeat by Arsenal.Matheus Franca and Adam Wharton are still sidelined because of groin injuries, with neither expected to feature again in 2024.Defender Daniel Munoz, who served an EFL Cup ban in midweek, is again suspended as a result of accumulating five yellow cards in the Premier League.Arsenal midfiel...
After their dreams of EFL Cup stardom crashed and burned in midweek, Brentford make a welcome return to the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, when Nottingham Forest visit for a Premier League battle.Thomas Frank's men fell to a 3-1 loss to Newcastle United in Wednesday's cup quarter-final, while the Garibaldi pulled off a tremendous late turnaround to sink Aston Villa 2-1 last weekend.Away days...
Looking to enjoy a top-flight success in front of their East Anglian faithful for the first time this season, Ipswich Town will welcome Newcastle United to Portman Road on Saturday afternoon for a Premier League clash.The Tractor Boys delivered a significant blow in the survival race last weekend by downing Wolverhampton Wanderers in the West Midlands, whilst the Magpies have enjoyed a pair of pro...
- 1 Omar Sowunmi earns Bromley dramatic draw at Barrow
- 2 Phoenix Patterson and Zech Medley on target as Fleetwood defeat Newport
- 3 Malik Mothersille’s missed penalty proves costly for Peterborough
- 4 Dimitri Payet breaks silence on claims made by his ex-lover
- 5 Jimmy Thelin praises Kevin Nisbet’s moment of magic as Aberdeen beat Hibernian
- 6 A sad, sad day – Miron Muslic accepts Plymouth’s relegation despite victory
- 7 Andy Carroll and girlfriend put on loved-up display on holiday
- 8 Ancelotti in Brazil job talks
- 9 Steve Bruce bemoans ‘worst penalty decision’ as Blackpool held by Wigan
- 10 Transfer news & rumours LIVE