Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called on his players to “live the moment” in their Champions League semifinal clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
The first leg of the semifinal, taking place on Tuesday, marks Arsenal’s first appearance at this stage of the competition since 2009-and only their third in history. Despite the weight of expectation, Arteta encouraged his squad to focus on the present rather than the club’s historical shortcomings in Europe.
“You feel it, especially because we have, fortunately, a lot of people that have worked at the club for many years, and they’ve never been in this position,” Arteta said during Monday’s pre-match press conference. “That tells you how unique and beautiful this moment is. It’s the most prestigious competition for any European club.”
Arteta emphasized that reaching the final is a challenge that must be earned, and urged his players to adopt a mindset of self-belief and composure.
“It’s a moment to say, ‘This is who we are. This is who I am as an individual, and I’m going to give my best to make it happen,'” he said. “Live the present. We’ve worked tremendously hard over ten months to get here. We’ve earned this. Now we must enjoy it and be fully present.”
Arsenal will be without midfielder Thomas Partey, who is suspended after receiving a yellow card in the second leg of the quarterfinal against Real Madrid. Despite his absence, Arteta is confident the team will draw inspiration from their performance at the Santiago Bernabeu, where they secured a 2–1 victory on the night and a commanding 5–1 aggregate result.
“Going to the Bernabeu is perhaps the biggest test in European football, considering their history and what they’ve accomplished recently,” Arteta noted. “We managed that match very well, and I believe it gave this squad confidence and invaluable experience.”
Ben White and Mikel Merino both trained on Monday at Arsenal’s London Colney base, though Riccardo Calafiori was absent due to a knee issue. In Partey’s absence, Merino is expected to slot into a central midfield role, while Leandro Trossard is likely to be drafted into the attacking line-up.
As Arsenal prepare for a pivotal fixture that could define their season – and perhaps their modern European legacy – Arteta’s message remains clear: focus, believe, and embrace the opportunity.
