Luis Enrique draws Mikel Arteta comparison as he launches defence of dire PSG defeat to Arsenal

First-half goals from Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka sealed a crucial victory for the Gunners, in their first European win of this season. The game highlighted the contrasting stages of development between the two clubs, with Arsenal under Arteta looking polished and determined, while Luis Enrique’s PSG side still appears to be a work in progress.

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  WHAT ENRIQUE SAID

  In his post-match press conference, Luis Enrique was full of praise for Arteta and the progress Arsenal have made in recent years under the Spaniard. “I can’t really evaluate things on the same scale,” he explained. “Mikel Arteta is in his fifth year with Arsenal, and I’ve only been managing PSG for a year and two months. While I have a clear vision of where I want to take this team, it’s difficult to predict how much time we’ll need to reach that level of performance.

  “I can’t properly evaluate the level of our team, we will have to wait until the end of the season. This was our first big rival at a higher level. We knew from the first minute they would press us high and they did it aggressively and we couldn’t cope with that pressure.”

  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    One of the key factors in PSG’s defeat, according to Luis Enrique, was Arsenal’s physical dominance and aerial superiority. The manager acknowledged that his players struggled to cope with Arsenal’s intensity and pressure, and it was this inability to compete in physical battles that ultimately led to PSG’s downfall.

    “Today we were far away from the standards you need in this kind of match. Arsenal were much better in terms of pressure, intensity, they won every duel,” Luis Enrique analysed. “It’s impossible to play for a positive result when you don’t win any of your duels on the pitch. We won none of our duels, their defenders completely anticipated our attackers, and our defenders failed to anticipate their attackers.”

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    WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL & PSG?

    After cruising to victory against the Parisians, Arsenal will be back in action at the Emirates against a beleaguered Southampton on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, PSG will continue their journey on the road and travel to Allianz Riviera to face Nice in a Ligue 1 encounter.