Mikel Arteta lays down gauntlet to Arsenal stars ahead of PSG tie – ‘We want more’

Arsenal will play Paris Saint-Germain for a place in the Champions League final over the next few weeks and Mikel Arteta wants his players to seize their chance to make history

Mikel Arteta has urged his players to seize the opportunity of a lifetime to write their name into Arsenal folklore. The Gunners are facing Paris Saint Germain in their first Champions League final for 16 years and they have never won the trophy before.

But Arteta insists they will not be weighed down by history and he says the Emirates crowd can help them go all the way to the final. The Gunners boss said: “We are making history, it’s a beautiful story right now – but we want much more.

“You feel it because we have a lot of people who have worked here for many, many years which tells you how unique and beautiful it is. It’s the nicest competition for any European club and we want to do it and reach the final.

“It’s an incredible opportunity, we are here to make history and we are very close and now we have to make it happen. We have a massive opportunity, as a club and supporters and it’s about who we are and how much we want it.”

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Arsenal steamrollered Real Madrid in the quarter finals after a memorable win at the Emirates and Arteta insisted that the fans can play their part against PSG. They have fallen short in the title race amid injuries and suspensions but Arteta stressed that the players can feed off the atmosphere and ensure they do not to finish the season empty-handed.

Arteta said: “You sense it, you sense the energy, the enthusiasm and it’s something unique, probably one of the biggest games that the Emirates has seen since we built it. Full of energy, enthusiasm and we can’t wait to play tomorrow.

“Especially with the circumstances that we’ve had this season, we’ve overcome a lot of issues and challenges and the fact that the team is here as one of the four best teams in Europe tells you about the mindset, the mentality and how much we really want it.

“Tomorrow – I want more, much more and I’ve told them: ‘guys, bring your boots bring your shorts and shirts and play every ball together. If we want to do something special then that place has to be special and something that we’ve not seen before. We hope everybody who comes to the Emirates and everyone watching and following us to bring the energy.

“It’s about reaching the limits, going all the way and making it happen. For me, the past is irrelevant. We can learn things from it. The very far past and short past are different the the short past can help us to improve and be better tomorrow.”

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