Arteta Rallies Arsenal to ‘Give Their Lives’ for Champions League Final Spot Against PSG

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has issued a passionate call to his players to “give their lives” to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg at Parc des Princes on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, as they aim for only their second final appearance in the competition’s history. Speaking to ESPN on May 5, Arteta expressed his anticipation, stating, “Excitement, goosebumps, wanting the day to arrive, [the feeling] of being very prepared, very convinced and knowing the opportunity is to play in a Champions [League] final. And when you get to that point, you have to give your life for it.” The Gunners, who lost the first leg at Emirates Stadium on April 29 to an early Ousmane Dembélé goal, face a formidable challenge to reach the Munich final on May 31 against either Barcelona or Inter Milan.

The return of midfielder Thomas Partey, absent in the first leg due to a yellow-card suspension from the quarter-final win over Real Madrid, bolsters Arsenal’s squad. Partey’s presence is expected to stabilize the midfield, allowing Declan Rice to shift to a more advanced role alongside Martin Ødegaard, addressing the first leg’s lack of dynamism, where Arsenal struggled early with only 25% possession in the opening 15 minutes. Arteta’s tactical adjustment after 20 minutes in the first leg improved Arsenal’s control, and BBC Sport notes Partey’s return could neutralize Dembélé’s false-nine movements, which exploited gaps between Arsenal’s lines. However, injuries cloud preparations, with Jurrien Timber doubtful after a knock sustained in the first leg, missing Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Bournemouth on May 3, and Gabriel, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Riccardo Calafiori ruled out, per The Athletic. Ben White, despite a recent knee injury, is likely to replace Timber at right-back.

Arteta’s rallying cry follows a disappointing run, with no wins in three games, including the Bournemouth defeat marred by set-piece vulnerabilities—12 of Arsenal’s 31 Premier League goals conceded this season came from set pieces, per The Guardian. Despite this, Arteta remains defiant, telling Sky Sports post-Bournemouth that the “rage, anger, frustration” from the loss will fuel their PSG clash. Arsenal’s 2-0 league-phase win over PSG in October 2024 and their 5-1 aggregate triumph at Real Madrid’s Bernabéu offer hope, though their historical failure to advance after losing a Champions League knockout first leg at home (0/4) looms large. Mikel Merino, whose first-leg header was disallowed for offside, expressed confidence, telling BBC Sport, “Paris is a tough place to go, but we have proved we can win anywhere, the Bernabéu, and against any side.”

PSG, fresh off a 2-1 Ligue 1 loss to Strasbourg after Luis Enrique made 10 changes, face concerns over Dembélé’s fitness after a “niggle” in the first leg, though Enrique downplayed it as “nothing serious.” X posts, like @iz_sharifkigezi’s prediction of a 2-0 Arsenal win citing Partey, Rice, Saka, and Martinelli, reflect cautious optimism, while @bharianmy quoted Arteta urging a “luar biasa” (extraordinary) comeback. Critics, including Gary Neville on X, warn Arsenal risk a “poor season” if they exit Europe and fail to secure second in the Premier League, trailing Liverpool by 12 points as of May 6. With the tie at “half-time,” as Arteta told Reuters, Arsenal’s chances hinge on exploiting PSG’s home vulnerabilities—evident in their Nice loss—and delivering the “something special” Arteta demanded to end their 19-year Champions League final drought.