- Arsenal host PSG in Tuesday’s first leg of their Champions League semi-final
- Mikel Arteta says supporters can play their part against the French champions
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why Jude Bellingham’s move to Real Madrid paid off for Liverpool
Mikel Arteta has called on Arsenal’s fans to create the Emirates’ best-ever atmosphere on Tuesday night to help the club reach a first Champions League final in nearly 20 years.
The Gunners face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final first leg and are flying high after blitzing 15-time European champions Real Madrid in the previous round.
With Liverpool having wrapped up the Premier League title on Sunday, the north London club are zeroed in on their final shot at silverware this season.
And after the raucous crowd’s impact in the home leg against Real on April 8, which Arsenal won 3-0, Arteta wants more.
He said: ‘It’s probably one of the biggest games at the Emirates since we built it. We are making history, it’s a beautiful story right now but we want much more.
‘More (noise than against Real Madrid). I’m not exaggerating when I say: Guys, bring your boots, bring your shorts, bring your shirts and let’s play every ball together.
Former Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta shows he’s not lost his touch during Monday’s training
Martin Odegaard (left) and Jurrien Timber jump to it ahead of the visit of Paris Saint-Germain
Declan Rice, who starred in the quarter-final victory over Real Madrid, looks in good spirits
‘If we want to do something special, that place has to be something special, something we haven’t seen.
‘I really hope everybody who comes to the Emirates brings that energy.
‘The players feel it, they believe they can be better and that’s what they felt against Real Madrid. You look at them in the eyes and know they cannot wait to play.’
Arsenal have never won the European Cup and last reached the final in 2006. Now Arteta is desperate to be in this season’s showpiece in Munich on May 31.
He added: ‘It’s an incredible opportunity. We are here to make history and we are very close. Now we have to make it happen. We have a massive opportunity, as a club and fans, and it’s about who we are and how much we want it.’
The Gunners beat PSG 2-0 at the Emirates in the league phase but PSG’s form has improved since then. They overcame Liverpool and Aston Villa in the last two rounds, with Luis Enrique’s side hoping to take their third English scalp.
Gabriel Martinelli is determined to pull his weight in the biggest game of the Brazilian’s career
Mikel Merino (right) has chipped in with some important goals for the Gunners this season
He said: ‘I would like to remind you that Arsenal have not won the Champions League before and only one of us will get the ticket to the final and I hope that will be PSG.’
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli agreed this is the biggest game of his career, saying: ‘It is a dream to be here. Since I started playing football when I was five or six, I had this dream to be playing in the Champions League and to be in a semi-final, it is amazing.
‘It is the opportunity of our lives. We deserve to be here and our mentality is to win.’
