Axel Allag, Media365, published on Monday September 30, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
This Monday, on the eve of hosting PSG at the Emirates Stadium (Tuesday 9 p.m.), Mikel Arteta expressed his opinion on the team led by Luis Enrique. An “exceptional” team that the Gunners are ready to challenge.
PSG, Mikel Arteta knows. During the 2001-2002 season, it was in the jersey of the capital club that he played his first matches (53) as a professional, he who had frequented the Barça reserve and did not play in the first team, who therefore opted for a loan to Paris. “I am forever grateful to the club, who believed in me at the age of 17. It was a real stepping stone for me, with teammates who shaped who I wanted to be as a player and who ignited in me the desire to become a manager in the future: Ronaldinho, Anelka, Okocha, Pochettino, Heinze… they were incredible players”, recalled the former midfielder, who will find Luis facing him Enrique Tuesday evening. A compatriot for whom he has great esteem.
“They dominate all phases of the game”
The technician of the English vice-champions thus valued (in comments transcribed by Le Parisien) the “crazy energy” released by the Asturian, both in his time as a player, and now as a coach. According to him, it is clear, the capital club is no longer the same on the pitch. “He is direct, he tells you what he thinks, and the players appreciate that. He has won everything in his career, and today he has transformed PSG which now has a very clear identity. It’s a great success”, considered Arteta, who learned during his press conference of the choice to sideline Ousmane Dembélé for disciplinary reasons, while his absence from the group was made official. “I don’t know if it’s true or not, but we will prepare for all eventualities,” he confided, aware of PSG’s options to cope without the 2018 world champion.
While Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori are doubtful for the match, Arteta said he was ready to challenge PSG. “They are an exceptional team. They are really very strong. They dominate all phases of the game. Their intentions are very clear. When they don’t have the ball, they want to win it back directly and they confront you. It’s that Luis, it’s his way of doing things and it’s their greatest strength”, he assessed, he who “wants to experience” these kinds of evenings, with the hope of obtaining the 3 points of the victory, a week after the draw on the lawn of Atalanta Bergamo (0-0). PSG won at the finish against Girona (1-0).
