Evening Standard
·24 aprile 2025
Gary Neville reveals shock Arsenal wish for Champions League with Mikel Arteta claim

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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·24 aprile 2025
Arsenal are three matches away from winning Champions League for first time
Surprise support: Gary Neville says he wants Mikel Arteta to lead Arsenal to Champions League glory
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Gary Neville surprisingly revealed he hopes Arsenal win the Champions League this season.
The Gunners were sensational over two legs against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, beating the defending champions 5-1 on aggregate after winning both matches.
Mikel Arteta’s side now turn their attention to a semi-final showdown with PSG, who they beat in the league phase of the competition earlier this season.
Barcelona, who face Inter Milan in the other last-four clash, are the favourites to lift the trophy in Munich next month, and Jamie Carragher made it clear he is keen for Arsenal to fall short in their bid for a first Champions League title.
“I can’t say I’d like to see Arsenal win it because I’d just be lying,” Carragher said on the Stick To Football podcast.
“I don’t like to see other English teams winning big European competitions.”
Neville, however, disagreed, as he suggested he would like to see Arteta lead Arsenal to European glory.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing Arsenal win it at all,” Neville said.
“I’d want them to win it. I want Arsenal to win it for Arteta really. I think being there five years, he needs that big trophy. He needs a trophy.”
PSG, who have also never won the Champions League, have knocked out Liverpool and Aston Villa to reach the semi-finals and now look to make it a hat-trick over Premier League opposition.
Luis Enrique’s side have been hugely impressive and will believe they can achieve the club’s ultimate goal, one the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi fell short of meeting.
“If PSG won it, it’s almost good for the game in that they’ve had had the Messi, Neymar and Mbappe and almost come away from that,” Carragher said.
“Not young kids, but young, energetic, top players. More of a team. If you’re Mbappe, you leave to go to Real Madrid and they’re all over the place.”