Arsenal out to rewrite history as Mikel Arteta targets 'beautiful' PSG story | OneFootball

Arteta eyeing famous night in Paris as Gunners plot Champions League fightback

Mikel Arteta’s side had just beaten the Champions League holders in their own backyard to complete a remarkable 5-1 aggregate win that booked them a place in the semi-finals.

Up in the gods of the Bernabeu, the Arsenal fans felt like they were in heaven as they went through just about their whole songbook before eventually being ushered out the stadium.

But just three weeks on, Arsenal have the opportunity to eclipse that famous night here in Paris.

Arteta’s Arsenal are 1-0 down going into the second leg at the Parc des Princes

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Paris Saint-Germain may not have the same aura or history as Real Madrid, but they are undoubtedly a better side right now.

The first 25 minutes of last week’s first leg showed that was the case and now Arsenal must make history after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners have never progressed when losing the first leg of a European tie at home.

“We are here to make history, and we have a big opportunity,” said Arteta. “We are a win away from being in the Champions League final, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world against a great opponent - it doesn’t get much better than that.”

Beating Real Madrid at the Bernabeu was impressive, but the odds were in Arsenal’s favour then thanks to a three-goal lead and a wave of momentum secured from the first leg.

The Real Madrid PR machine was in full swing with talk of a comeback, however in reality the Gunners were clear favourites and only an historic collapse would have seen them go out.

The mood is completely different in Paris.

Defeat in the first leg and a 2-1 loss to Bournemouth on Saturday, when Arteta chose not to rest players, has dampened belief among supporters.

Arteta and Declan Rice, who both spoke on Tuesday at press conferences, did their best to change that and spread some positivity.

Declan Rice says Arsenal need ‘big balls’ and ‘magic moments’ to reach the final

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“We need to have big balls and we need to go out there on the biggest stage and show that we’re ready to play at this level.”

Arteta has made “make it happen” the motto for Arsenal’s Champions League run, but fans travelling over to France are doing so in hope rather than expectation.

PSG have won three of their last four Champions League home games, scoring 14 goals in the process, while they have only been eliminated once when winning the opening meeting of a two-legged European tie.

History is not on Arsenal’s side, either, as only two teams have ever reached the Champions League final having lost the first leg of their semi-final tie at home. One of those was Tottenham six years ago and the other Ajax in 1996.

Arsenal, at least, arrive in Paris off the back of winning all four of their last away games in the Champions League. They have never won five on the spin on the road in Europe, but Arteta will argue that just creates yet another chance for his players to make history.

He can also point to the fact his side have scored 16 goals on the road in the Champions League this season - which is the club’s best ever tally.

The return of Thomas Partey is also a major boost for Arsenal. The Ghanaian missed the first leg through suspension and it disrupted the midfield. Rice was forced to sit deep and was not as influential as when he is played in advanced role.

Mikel Merino had to drop into midfield, which is his natural position, but without him up top the Gunners lacked a focal point to go long to as they tried to play over the top of PSG’s press.

Ousmane Dembele is fit for PSG after a hamstring injury

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“A lot of learning from the first leg as well, and how small the margins are between the two teams,” said Arteta. “The result, in my opinion, should have been very different to that one.”

Arsenal’s season is on the line in Paris, but the pressure on the hosts is just as great.

Luis Enrique’s side have shown during their run to the semi-finals that they are vulnerable and, even though they lost last week’s first leg, Arsenal had chances.

Ousmane Dembele being fit after a hamstring injury is a huge boost for PSG, but there will still be some nerves among the home fans.

Certainly the bravado that Real Madrid supporters had three weeks ago, even at 3-0 down, does not exist.

PSG have never won the Champions League and, in fact, they have lost all three of their semi-final matches in the competition on home soil.

Wednesday gives them a chance to change that, but it also offers Arsenal the opportunity for redemption.

It was in Paris, 19 years ago, that Arsenal suffered heartbreak in the final of the Champions League as they lost to Barcelona.

Victory over PSG, and the chance to lift the trophy in Munich at the end of this month, would go some way to easing those painful memories.

“It’s a beautiful story,” said Arteta. “So let’s make it our own.”