Arsenal are set to play their biggest match for 16 years when they take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The Gunners last reached the semi-final of Europe’s elite competition in 2009, when Arsene Wenger’s team were defeated by Manchester United over two legs.
An electric PSG side await Mikel Arteta’s men in the last four, and the Spaniard’s outfit will have to be at their absolute best to overcome the French giants.
However, Arsenal did beat PSG back in October in relatively comfortable fashion, and will be confident that they can replicate that feat this time around.
Arsene Wenger says he believes Arsenal can win the Champions League
If Arsenal do progress past the Ligue 1 Champions, they’ll meet either Barcelona or Inter Milan in the final in Munich in May.
A final encounter with Barcelona would be poetic, given the Catalan club were the Gunners’ opponents in the only Champions League final the North London club have ever reached.
Arsenal lost 2-1 to Barcelona that day in Paris in 2006, breaking Wenger and his young team’s hearts.
The legendary coach has had his say on this iteration of Arsenal’s hopes in the competition, speaking to Sky Sports in an interview prior to the PSG tie.
“I believe that Arsenal have the potential to do it,” he said.
“But of course when you get to the semi-final, Paris Saint-Germain are a very good team as well. So everybody is excited about it, so let’s see and hope.
“Of course [it will be a challenge]. The teams that go through to the semi-final, they have some qualities, you know. Then it’s down to the form of the day, to the main players who can show their efficiency on the day.
“As well, a little bit [it’s important] that you have no sending off or a stupid reaction at some stage. So overall, I believe Arsenal are very solid defensively and over two legs that will have a big importance.”
What Mikel Arteta said about Arsene Wenger’s team and creating history
Arteta will desperate for his team to go one better than Wenger’s 2006 side, and lift the piece of silverware that has eluded the club for its entire history.
The Frenchman’s team were a delightful side to watch, but were perhaps a bit too young and not mature enough to go all the way at that point.
The likes of Thierry Henry and Sol Campbell were still at Wenger’s disposal, but the majority of the side was made up of the new crop of players that would take Arsenal into the Emirates era, with the dominant team of the early 2000s mostly gone.
Arteta’s side should boast more experience than that team, and should be more psychologically mature and ready to conquer big European matches.
Asked about the comparisons between the 2006 and 2025 team and the opportunity that is on the cards in his pre-match press conference, Arteta said: “Incredible opportunity. We are here to make people happy.
“To create history and we are really close. Now we have to take the opportunity and make it happen.”
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