Mikel Arteta labels Arsenal vs PSG ‘one of the biggest games’ in 19 years at Emirates

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal vs PSG is ‘probably one of the biggest games that the Emirates has seen’ since the Gunners left Highbury 19 years ago.

The Gunners lock horns with the French champions in north London on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final showdown.

Arsenal have never won the elite European club competition before in their history but have been in fine form, eliminating Real Madrid in the last eight.

Arteta has now urged his side to continue their ‘beautiful story’ in what he believes will be one of the biggest Arsenal home games since 2006.

Quizzed if he felt the same as Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli, who has described Tuesday’s match as the biggest game of his life, Arteta said: ‘You sense the energy, the enthusiasm, that it’s something unique.

‘[It is] probably one of the biggest games that the Emirates has seen since we built it. And yeah, full of energy, enthusiasm, and can’t wait to play the game tomorrow.’

In an emotional message to his players, Arteta added: ‘The fact that the team is here as one of the four best teams in Europe… It tells you about the mindset, the spirit, and how much we really want it.

‘So yeah, we are making history. It’s a beautiful story right now, but we want much more.

‘You feel [the weight of history], especially because we have, fortunately, a lot of people that have worked in the club for many, many years and they’ve never been in this position.

‘So that tells you how unique and beautiful it is. It’s the nicest competition for any European club.

‘We’ve never done it, so we need to earn the right to be in that final, and everything is going to start tomorrow.

‘[We have an] incredible opportunity. I mean, we are here to make people happy, to create history and we are very close and now we have to take the opportunity and make it happen.’

Arteta has also shared an update on Mikel Merino’s fitness ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against PSG.

Meanwhile, PSG manager Luis Enrique has fired a warning to Arsenal before the first leg.

Enrique has told Arsenal that PSG are a ‘much better team’ than when they met in the league phase, a game which the Gunners won 2-0 in October.

‘That was seven or eight months ago,’ Enrique told reporters in his own pre-match press conference on Monday. ‘I saw the match again. We’re a much better team today.’

Enrique added: ‘PSG have never won the Champions League? Neither have Arsenal.

‘We mustn’t let that stop us from performing at the highest level, we have to keep that in mind but concentrate on what we have to do.’