PSG boss Luis Enrique makes huge claim about Arsenal and explains Ousmane Dembele axing

Paris Saint-Germain caput manager Luis Enrique has hailed Arsenal arsenic ‘one of the champion teams successful Europe’ up of the sides’ Champions League gathering connected Tuesday night.

Arsenal secured their spot successful Europe’s premier contention with a second-placed decorativeness successful the Premier League past word – the 2nd clip connected the bounce the nine finished arsenic runners-up down Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta volition person been anxious for a connection show arsenic Arsenal kicked disconnected their group-stage run against Atalanta earlier this period but the northbound London outfit were held to a goalless gully successful Bergamo.

David Raya was Arsenal’s leader that day, keeping the scoreline goalless with a singular treble prevention from a punishment successful what was a tense matter astatine the Gewiss Stadium.

Next up for the Gunners is an intriguing clash with Ligue 1 giants PSG, who suffered a achy decision astatine the hands of Borussia Dortmund astatine the semi-final signifier past term.

Previewing Tuesday’s contention astatine his pre-match property league this afternoon, Enrique had thing but praise for Arsenal and the occupation Arteta had done since taking implicit the reins astatine the Emirates.

‘I deliberation they are 1 of the champion teams successful Europe astatine the moment,’ the Spaniard told reporters.

‘With the shot they are a squad precise adjacent to the apical European level and without the shot they are besides precise good.

‘I would adjacent accidental that they are 1 of the champion teams successful the satellite without the ball.

‘They are a squad with a existent identity. We are akin but besides person antithetic styles of play.’

Enrique and Arteta were team-mates for a abbreviated play astatine Barcelona and the PSG brag is looking guardant to catching up his chap countryman successful northbound London.

‘We were team-mates for a play astatine Barcelona adjacent though helium was young astatine the time. I person bully memories of him arsenic a team-mate,’ Enrique added.

‘He had a large vocation arsenic a player, helium had a precise palmy extremity to his career.

‘We haven’t faced disconnected against each different since we’ve some been coaching.

‘Even if it’s lone 5 minutes earlier the game, I’d similar to speech to him and it volition beryllium a pleasance to beryllium capable to greet him connected Tuesday.

‘He’s 1 of the champion coaches connected the marketplace close present and he’s helped Arsenal go a nine that wins titles again. He’s a large manager and a large person.’

Ousmane Dembele has been axed by Enrique for PSG’s brushwood with Arsenal, a determination that caught Arteta by surprise arsenic helium faced the media earlier today.

Widespread reports successful France claimed Enrique and Dembele were progressive successful a heated altercation pursuing the side’s 3-1 triumph implicit Rennes past Friday.

‘There are hard circumstances, hard decisions,’ Enrique said erstwhile asked to elaborate connected the situation.

‘I americium 100 per cent committed to my decisions, I americium 100 per cent definite of my decisions. My decisions are not irreversible.

‘I signed for this nine to make a squad with an identity, that plays football.

‘Was I hired to triumph titles and triumph the Champions League? Certainly not. I was hired to bash the champion I can.

‘I person the enactment of the management, the sporting director, the president. I americium present to make a squad and to bash it besides with Ousmane Dembele.’

Enrique hopes to debar the substance becoming a ‘soap opera’ which helium fears could go a distraction up of specified a important game.

‘I person thing to adhd to what I said before.

‘You already person capable to enactment with, if you want. I americium honorable but I bash not privation to marque a soap opera retired of this matter.

‘There is nary quality betwixt the 2 of us, that is wholly false.

‘There is simply a occupation of committedness of the subordinate towards the squad but not a occupation betwixt the subordinate and the coach.’

For much stories similar this, check our athletics page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest quality connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

MORE : Arsenal fans rejoice arsenic Mikel Merino is spotted backmost successful grooming aft injury

MORE : Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal prima was ‘emotional’ aft caller wounded scare

MORE : Declan Rice responds to claims Arsenal are ‘cheating’ successful Premier League matches

This tract is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.