Paris Saint-Germain will be a more difficult proposition for Arsenal when the two parties meet in the semi-final of the Champions League according to head coach Luis Enrique, who have previously played each other in the competition phase this season.
The French side will travel to the Emirates Stadium for the first stage of their draw for the second time this season this season, with goals by Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka who gave the Gunners a 2-0 win in October.
Since that match, PSG has won their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title, reached the Coupe de France final and beat both Liverpool and Aston Villa from the Champions League. Luis Enrique was convinced that they had improved in their press conference before the competition.
“That was seven or eight months ago. I saw the competition again. We are a much better team today,” he said.
“We had a very intense group stage, with many games that could have been finals. So I think that made things difficult because we were in a difficult position, but it made us much stronger and we are more complete.
“These are the semi -final of Champions League, but they are still two games between two teams with the same goal. The key will manage the pressure.”
In the meantime, Arsenal is on the back of a 5-1 total victory over Real Madrid in the quarterfinals of the competition, while they are also unbeaten at home in Europe.
From Paris to London! #ARSPSG I @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/4ZPVR3JXSI
-Paris Saint-Germain (@pg_english) 28 April 2025
“They are one of the best teams in Europe and they have been doing a remarkable work with their coach for several years now,” he said.
“We earn it all to be here. I like my team the most, that's why I am here. Some people will like Paris, others Arsenal, that is part of life.”
Together with Arsenal, PSG wants to win the Champions League for the first time in their history.
“The goal is difficult to achieve. That does not mean that we are under pressure, we are ambitious,” Luis Enrique added.
“If we say we want to write history, we're talking about doing something that nobody has done for us. The team has a lot of confidence, and sometimes we are less brilliant, but that is part of life.
“PSG has never won the Champions League? Arsenal don't have either. We should not be stopped at the highest level, we have to keep that in mind, but concentrate on what we have to do.”