Arsenal are on the verge of reaching their only second Champions League final after almost 20 years. If the football gods are in a good mood, they might even get a chance to play a “rematch” against the club that made their lives miserable in the 2005/06 season – Barcelona.Interestingly, Arsenal lost 2-1 that night in their only UCL showdown so far, which was played in Paris – the home of their tonight’s opponent, Paris Saint-Germain.It’s time for the real deal – the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Emirates (10 pm).##NAJAVA_MECA_8893853##Excellent Spanish managers lead two teams – on one side, Mikel Arteta, and on the other, Luis Enrique. Two teams that play 21st-century football: fast, dynamic, high-risk, and attacking. It’s a style of play where decisions are made in the blink of an eye and actions unfold just as quickly, always to catch the opponent off guard and strike powerfully at their weakest point.Arsenal will be without Thomas Partey, while Jorginho and Riccardo Calafiori are sidelined with injuries, just like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, who have been already out for quite some time.Unbeaten against PSG ✅Will Arsenal extend their record? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/pvvBGzysXx— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) April 28, 2025 On the other hand, Luis Enrique has no personnel issues, but has a few dilemmas. One of them is whether to start Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola on the left wing. It seems Doue is slightly more likely to start, but we’ll have to wait for Luis Enrique’s final decision.After dismantling Real Madrid’s championship structure, Arteta is now set to engage in a uniquely tactical mind game with his compatriot. Arteta will certainly be encouraged by the fact that Arsenal has already faced Paris Saint-Germain once this season on the Champions League group stage – and won 2-0 at the Emirates on October 1. There’s no doubt that everyone in London would give anything to see a repeat of that result tonight, as it would be a huge advantage heading into the return leg in France in a week.Nice(st) example to Arsenal on how to beat PSG!And for the superstitious fans, here’s a little bonus – tonight’s match will once again be officiated by the same referee as that October game: Slavko Vincic.”I’m telling the fans, and I’m really not exaggerating: bring your boots, wear your jerseys and shorts, your tracksuits – let’s play every ball together, literally! We want to do something special. This place needs to be something extraordinary, something we haven’t seen before. I truly hope that everyone at the Emirates tonight, everyone supporting us, brings a special kind of energy,” said Arteta ahead of the battle.UCL: Arteta’s mean machine runs over his former clubSince the Gunners played in that 2005/06 final, English clubs have won the Champions League five times: Manchester United in 2008, Chelsea in 2012 and 2021, Liverpool in 2019, and Manchester City in 2023. In addition, English clubs have been runners-up eight times in that span, highlighting their success in the competition. What hurts everyone in London is that Arsenal hasn’t been a part of that success.”Yes, you can feel the absence of a Champions League trophy. We have so many people who’ve worked at this club for years and never had the chance to be in a position to win it. That shows how beautiful and unique it is. We have to earn the right to be in that final. Yes, we’re writing history. It’s a beautiful story, but we want more. We must seize this opportunity and make it to the final,” said Arteta.”I believe Arsenal has the potential to do it” ⚽️Arsene Wenger previews Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final ties against Paris Saint-Germain 💭 pic.twitter.com/ojZ1ZD7Y6t— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 29, 2025 His counterpart, Luis Enrique, learned a lot from that previous match in October.”The match people are talking about, the one played in October, was seven or eight months ago. There’s a big difference between then and now. Of course, I watched the game again and I realized how far we’ve come since then. I think we’re a much better team now. We’re more complete. Our next goal is to make history, and there’s only one way to do that. Let me remind everyone that Arsenal has never won the Champions League, and only one of these two teams will earn a ticket to the final. I hope it’s PSG,” said Enrique.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – SEMI-FINALSFirst legTuesday22:00: (2.20) Arsenal (3.50) PSG (3.50)Wednesday22:00: (1.65) Barcelona (4.30) Inter (5.20)***odds are subject to change***
