Mikel Arteta says that Arsenal is ready to do something exceptional and start their own history by beating Paris Saint-Germain and reaching the Champions League final.
Arsenal goes to the second stage of their semi -final against the French champions with one goal after Ousmane Dembele's early strike at the Emirates a week ago.
The Gunners were the second best for a large part of the first stage, but Arteta insists that Arsenal is more than able to defy the opportunities by winning in Paris and booking their place in this month's final in Munich.
“To win the final of the Champions League, you have to do something exceptional during the tournament. We have done a lot of great things, but tomorrow in Paris against this team is the time to do it,” he said.
“We want to raise the level of this team and start writing history. That is the chance we have for us to do it.
“We are one victory removed from the fact that we are in the final. We can't consider anything else. Let's not do talking, let's do it tomorrow at that field at 9 p.m. (CET) when the game starts, shows our best, best, best version and win the game.
“Many of the things we did in the first game [we must do] Better and more consistent. If we do that, the chance of success will be very, very close to us.
“We are more than capable. We have done it against many opportunities in Europe. Nobody would say that we would be in this position.
“That was also against history. So let's make our own history.
“We are in the semi -final in the most beautiful cities in the world against a big opponent. It is not much better than that. We are here to write history. We have a big chance tomorrow.
“We bring a result that gives us so much clarity about what to do. Many lessons from the first stage and how small the margins are between the two teams.
“In my opinion, the result should have been very different. So tomorrow is another chance to prove that and to earn the right to be in the final.
Arteta added: “I think it's in us. I think we don't need anything else, you know.
“Now we have to use it to channel that energy, that emotion, that willingness that we all have in ourselves to deliver at the best possible level, at the highest level that each of us has tomorrow, to deliver the result we need to reach the final.”
Rice: Nobody can stop Arsenal at their best
Arsenal -Midfielder Declan Rice:
“If we are the best version of ourselves – and we know we can be – there is not that we get ourselves in that final.
“You can't get to Paris in a semi -final and you don't have that faith and courage.
“If we want to win things, we have to take these huge steps. Tomorrow night is a huge step, and we are really driven by the fact that the final is 90 minutes away.
“We are here to win the game and make a statement and go to the final. We have risen to the large occasions in the past and we are ready to do it again.
“In our second group game we defeated PSG with 2-0 and it was the same team different from Dembele and (Khvicha) Kvaratskhelia and everyone else started, so there is no fear. We believe we will be at this level.”
Neville: PSG can get very nervous
Sky Sports' Gary Neville:
“Arsenal has a chance. It is clearly a completely different game, it is obvious. But you can go there and cause some shocks.
“I have been there a few times and saw Real Madrid win there and I saw Manchester United win there. PSG is getting very nervous when the wrong things happen to them in that stadium.
“If Arsenal can just linger there, stay in the game and score a goal – then before you know it, stadium suddenly becomes no asset for PSG, it will be a problem for them. Because there is such a expectation to get and win in the Champions League final.
“It will be difficult. It was a great performance by PSG at the Emirates, and it was not a great performance by Arsenal. But Arsenal will be better.
“If they can stay in that game in the last 15 to 20 minutes, they have a chance.”