Mikel Arteta aims dig at Liverpool ahead of Champions League semifinal vs. PSG

Rwittika Chakraborty

Mikel Arteta aims dig at Liverpool ahead of Champions League semifinal vs. PSG image

Arsenal will lock horns with Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal on May 7.

The Gunners make the trip to the Parc des Princes with a one-goal deficit from the first leg, courtesy of Ousmane Dembele's winner in North London. The stakes are high for both sides in Paris as it potentially paves the way for one of them to clinch a first-ever UCL title.

PSG have already bagged the Ligue 1 title and Trophée des Champions this season whilst Arsenal only have the UCL crown as their remaining hope for 2025.

Liverpool have already clinched the 2024/25 Premier League title, with Arsenal once again on course to finish second, as they become the first team to finish as runners-up for three consecutive campaigns.

Arne Slot's team have racked up a superb run of form in 2024/25, with only three losses in 35 matches, but Mikel Arteta has mixed views on how they have performed.

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What did Arsenal boss say about Liverpool's Premier League title win?

During his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal's clash with PSG, Arteta was asked if he is under pressure to win a trophy this season.

Arteta made a bold claim about how Liverpool were able to claim the Premier League title this season, even though the Reds have fewer points than Arsenal in the past two campaigns, where the Gunners ended up in second.

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Liverpool won the league with 82 points this season. Arsenal amassed 89 and 84 points in the last two terms respectively and Arteta claimed that going by points on the board, the Gunners 'would have two Premier League titles.'

"Winning trophies is about being in the right moment, in the right place. Liverpool have won the title with less points than we have in the last two seasons. With the points of the last two seasons, we would have two Premier League titles," he said.

Mikel Arteta of Arsenal during loss vs. Bournemouth

"You have to be in the right moment, in the right place. Hopefully we are in the right moment, in the right place in Paris, to earn the right to be in the final."

With three league matches remaining, Arsenal are currently second with 67 points. However, they have a three-point gap to third-place Manchester City, and a four-point space to fourth-place Newcastle and Chelsea in fifth. As the margins are quite small, the Gunners will have to maintain their stride in the league to ensure UCL qualification.

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Rwittika Chakraborty

Rwittika Chakraborty is a content producer for The Sporting News. Based in India, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from SRM Institute of Science and Technology.