Arteta on Arsenal belief in reaching Champions Legaue final with PSG comeback
06/05/2025
uefa25 champions league
06/05/2025
uefa25 champions league
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00:00Good evening, everyone. Hope everyone's well.
00:04If you have a question, raise your hand.
00:05I believe we've got microphones here, so we'll come to you.
00:08If we're all ready at the back, we shall kick off.
00:10I look down here and I will go to John Cross from...
00:12No, yeah, we'll go to John Cross from the mirror.
00:14There we go.
00:14Hi, John.
00:15Declan Rice has just been in.
00:19Declan Rice has just been in.
00:21To say he's positive about tomorrow night is a bit of an understatement.
00:25He's saying that basically if you do it,
00:26it's the biggest night in the club's history.
00:28You know, basic, be brave, special night, special moments.
00:33I mean, do you feel that right throughout the group?
00:34There's a determination to turn this around.
00:36And, you know, when you see them in training,
00:38just how strong is that belief that they can do it in the confidence?
00:41Huge enthusiasm, huge energy.
00:43We are a win away from being the Champions League semifinal
00:45in the most beautiful cities in the world against a great opponent.
00:49It doesn't get much better than that.
00:51We are here to make history.
00:52We have a big opportunity tomorrow.
00:54We bring a result that gives us so much clarity about what we have to do.
00:59A lot of learning from the first leg as well
01:01and how small the margins are between the two teams.
01:04The result, in my opinion, should have been very different to that one.
01:08So tomorrow, another opportunity to prove that
01:11and the right to be in the final.
01:12OK, we'll go to Alex from the BBC.
01:15Hi, Mikel.
01:15You just said there you're here to make history
01:18and take this team to the Champions League final.
01:19But does it feel like it is your biggest game as Arsenal manager?
01:23Yeah, one of the most beautiful, for sure.
01:25I mean, again, one win away from being in the final.
01:29We cannot cash for anything else.
01:31It's now, let's not do the talking.
01:33Let's do it tomorrow on that pitch at 9pm when the game starts.
01:37Show our best, best, best, best version and win the game.
01:41OK, John, Radio 5.
01:44Mikel.
01:45Hi.
01:45However, as you'll well be aware, history is against you.
01:49So what is it going to take to turn this round?
01:54Again, a lot of the things that we did in the first game,
01:57better, more consistently.
01:59If we do that, the probability for success
02:02will be very, very close to us.
02:04We are more than capable.
02:05We've done it in Europe against a lot of odds.
02:08Probably nobody would say that we'll be in this position.
02:10So that was against history as well.
02:13So let's make our own history.
02:15Gary from Sky Sports.
02:17Mikel.
02:17Hi.
02:18Luis Enrique on Thursday will be 55 years old.
02:23He's looking forward to an extra special present this year
02:26with his team making the Champions League final.
02:30How determined are you?
02:31I know he's an old colleague of yours,
02:32but how determined are you to spoil his birthday?
02:35Well, being better than them.
02:36We're going to have to show that tomorrow.
02:39We know what we can do.
02:41We show it in the first leg as well in many minutes,
02:43apart from the first 15 minutes
02:44when we have some difficulties
02:45and understanding why.
02:48And tomorrow, as I said, full clarity,
02:50what we have to do, how we have to do it
02:52and how much we have to embrace and enjoy this moment
02:55to get the best out of ourselves.
02:57Jordan Athletic.
02:58Hi, Mikel.
02:59Declan was just in talking about the magic moments
03:02that you always ask your players in these big games.
03:04I think after the last year against Bayern Munich,
03:06you said that they just hadn't come.
03:08But do you feel after the Bernabeu performance
03:11that you've got players now, individuals now,
03:13that feel they belong at this level
03:14and have got the ability and the belief
03:17to go and make that difference?
03:18A hundred percent.
03:19I think that's how you have to embrace
03:20and take the game, you know,
03:22to make something special.
03:24We said to be in the final of the Champions League,
03:26you have to do something exceptional
03:27throughout the tournament.
03:28We've done a lot of great things,
03:30but tomorrow in Paris against this team
03:32is the moment to do it.
03:34And we want to elevate the level of this team
03:36and start to make history.
03:38That's the opportunity we have ahead of us to do it.
03:41Hi, Mikel.
03:42In big second legs in the Champions League,
03:44especially in this stadium before,
03:45sometimes they can feel like they go out of control
03:47or they can be chaotic.
03:49Is that what you'd want to provoke or would prefer?
03:52Or how would you see it?
03:53Depends.
03:54I think there would be different moments.
03:56Like you had a first leg.
03:57Obviously, the result brings a lot of clarity.
03:59What both teams have to do for us is even clearer.
04:03So that's it.
04:04And there are players on that team.
04:06They have experienced that in many situations.
04:08I was looking at the amount of time that they play ties
04:11and how many times they have tried.
04:14So we are here.
04:15It's our opportunity and we're going to make it happen.
04:18Yes, Andelima.
04:18Hi, Mikel.
04:19Away from home in Europe this season,
04:20you've put together quite a string of results,
04:23like the seven goals against PSV,
04:24five against Sporting Lisbon
04:25and, of course, the victory at the Bernabeu.
04:28What does that give you going into this game,
04:30obviously away from home again,
04:31that you can bring into, hopefully,
04:33obviously overturning the deficit in the second leg?
04:34Again, conviction that when we had to do it,
04:37we did it in a really convincing way
04:39against very difficult opponents.
04:42So, again, the last one is very recent,
04:45is Madrid against all the odds
04:46because, obviously, they were talking about
04:48all the comebacks and the history
04:50and what they did.
04:51And we proved something very different
04:53to what they expected.
04:54and tomorrow we're going to do the same.
04:56Phil Pia.
04:57Hi, Mikel.
04:58Deke was saying earlier
04:59that Arsenal are very close to winning trophies,
05:02but do you feel under pressure
05:04to get it done this season?
05:05Because there'll be some that will say
05:06that if Arsenal don't win a trophy this year,
05:08it's been a bit of a pain.
05:08We're going to try to do this season.
05:10Winning trophies as well
05:11is about being in the right moment,
05:13in the right place.
05:14Liverpool has won the title
05:16with less points than we have
05:17in the last two seasons.
05:19With the points of the last two seasons,
05:20we have two Premier League.
05:22So, you have to be in the right moment,
05:23in the right place.
05:25Hopefully, here,
05:26we are in the right moment,
05:27in the right place in Paris tomorrow
05:29to earn the right to win the final.
05:31Simon, Eden Standard.
05:32Mikel, when Arsenal fans think of Paris
05:35and the Champions League,
05:36they often think about 2006
05:38and the painful memories of that final.
05:40Does the fact you're back in the same city
05:42add to the opportunity for you
05:44to try and ease some of those painful memories
05:46and make some new ones?
05:48Yeah, football gives you another opportunity
05:49and it brings you to places
05:50that are so related sometimes.
05:52So, it's a beautiful story.
05:55So, let's make it our own tomorrow.
05:57Just quickly, on you,
05:58he obviously trained today.
05:59Is he okay to start tomorrow night?
06:01I will assess him today,
06:02whether he can start the game or not.
06:04Tom, Football London.
06:06Hi, Mikel.
06:07We saw Ricotta Calafiore also
06:08in training this morning.
06:10How much of a boost it is
06:11that he can be in and around the squad?
06:12I think he's travelled with the group as well.
06:13Yeah, he's travelled and he's fit
06:15and he's ready to play when we need him.
06:17So, that's great news, obviously.
06:19Guys, we're not going to be able
06:20to get around to everyone.
06:20So, we'll go quickly through.
06:21Sam from The Telegraph.
06:23Hi, Mikel.
06:23Hi.
06:24We know the sort of reaction
06:25that Dett got for his two free kicks
06:27and obviously, in the past,
06:28you think about Thierry Henry
06:29and the San Siro
06:30and these moments
06:30when players can become heroes
06:32and sort of icons of Arsenal's history.
06:34Is that part of the message tomorrow
06:36that someone needs to go out there
06:37and be the hero
06:38and make it their night?
06:40It has to be in football.
06:41You're going to get remembered
06:42for those moments.
06:43Biggest stages
06:44when the team needs it,
06:46when the club needs it
06:47to deliver those moments.
06:48And I'm playing with that mindset.
06:49This kind of game
06:50is, in my opinion,
06:52the right one
06:53and that's the world frame
06:54that we've done
06:54in the last few hours.
06:56OK, we do last two
06:57from the UK media.
06:58Firstly, Jordan from The Sun.
07:00Hi, Mikel.
07:02Just on the referee tomorrow night,
07:05he has quite a controversial past,
07:07but he has also a big reputation
07:08for being in the spotlight
07:09during these big games.
07:11Just how much have you analysed
07:13how he refs games
07:14and how do you prepare your players
07:15for coming up against a referee
07:17in such a big night?
07:18Yeah, we always get a report
07:19and understanding
07:20who he's going to be
07:23and how he likes to manage the game
07:25to try to understand him
07:26and to try to help him
07:28in that sense
07:29and make sure the players
07:30are very much aware of that
07:31and that work is done.
07:33OK, Nick Callow from Haters.
07:35Hi, Mikel.
07:36It's quite a few years
07:37since you played here
07:38for Paris Saint-Germain.
07:39I'm just wondering
07:39if there's anything from then
07:41that you can tell your players
07:42what to expect and prepare for.
07:44A beautiful atmosphere.
07:46I mean, this is a massive club
07:47with a huge history.
07:49One city, one team, basically.
07:51And yeah, I was very lucky
07:54to have 18 months here
07:56where I really enjoyed it
07:57and I have fascinating memories about it
07:59and it's great to be back here.
08:01OK, we'll do one here
08:02from TNT Mexico, I believe,
08:03and then one in French down here.
08:04Hi, Mikel.
08:06Obviously, it's the type of game
08:07that no one needs
08:09an extra layer of motivation.
08:11But how can you use the dream
08:12of achieving a Champions League final
08:14if you have already?
08:17Well, I think it's within us.
08:19I think, as you said,
08:20we don't need anything else.
08:22You know, now we need to use it
08:24to channel that energy,
08:25that emotion,
08:26that willingness
08:26that we all have
08:27inside ourselves
08:28to deliver and perform
08:30at the best possible level
08:33at the highest level
08:34of each of us has tomorrow
08:36to deliver the result
08:37that we need to be in the final.
08:39Hello, Frank Dzeniecki,
08:41TVP Sport, from Poland.
08:42I wanted to ask about
08:43Jakub Kivior
08:45in what aspects
08:47has he made
08:48the biggest progress
08:49in recent weeks
08:50and will we see him
08:52in the first line-up
08:54paired with William Saliba
08:55as we expected.
08:57Well, again,
08:58he deserves a lot of credit
08:59because he hasn't played
09:00too much
09:01throughout many months
09:02and suddenly he's been thrown
09:03into the most difficult context
09:05at the highest level
09:07playing against
09:07the best opponents
09:08when you haven't had
09:09the physical rhythm
09:10or the confidence
09:11to do it.
09:12I think he's been exceptional.
09:13Okay, finally, just one hit.
09:15De este lado, Miquel,
09:16Juanjo Rueda
09:17para Caliente TV México.
09:20Una eliminatoria
09:20que pintaba muy pareja
09:22en el papel.
09:23No sé si esta semana
09:24has notado
09:25que ha habido mucho
09:27al agua
09:27hacia el Paris Saint-Germain
09:28y si se ha sido
09:29un poco injusto
09:30con tu equipo
09:30y a la vez preguntarte
09:31si esto te molesta.
09:33No, lo sé.
09:33Está siempre relacionado
09:34con el resultado.
09:35Yo te digo
09:36lo que he visto
09:36y después de ver el partido
09:37varias veces
09:38creo que el resultado
09:39no refleja
09:40lo que pasó en el campo
09:41para nada.
09:42Lo que pasó
09:43en los primeros 15 minutos
09:44y lo que pasó después
09:45fue muy diferente
09:46pero al final
09:47el resultado
09:47es el que manda
09:48en las sensaciones
09:49y ya está.
09:51Mañana hacerlo mejor,
09:52ganar
09:52y entonces todo será seguro
09:54y muchos halagos.
09:56Okay, guys.
09:56That's us.
09:57Thanks very much.
09:58Merci.