Mikel Arteta’s options for the huge semi-final of the Tuesday Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain were stimulated with the news that Mikel Merino and Ben White are both available for the selection.
The duo missed last week’s match against Crystal Palace, but was back among the team’s training at the Sobha Realty Training Center in front of the cameras the day before our first final confrontation of four in the competition since 2009, which means that Artata has a lot of choice to consider in defense, in the midfield and the attack on head to the match against the French champions.
Learn more
Gallery: PSG preparation
Merino scored in three of his last four home appearances at the Emirates Stadium, so his return is extremely beneficial, in particular with Thomas Parte serving a suspension after taking his third reservation of the competition during our 2-1 epic victory in Real Madrid a fortnight. White’s presence is also important since Arte has confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori is still absent with a knee injury taken up in international service last month.
“Ben White and Mikel Merino were able to train and we will see if they are able to start tomorrow,” said Mikel at his pre-match press conference. “Riccardo Calafiori is still not in good shape. We know that we have lost Thomas unfortunately very late in the match against Real Madrid (at the suspension).”
Learn more
Each word from the pre-PSG press conference of Arteta
Whoever obtains the wink to appear in northern London, the boss challenged them to reach his highest levels, just as they did in both legs against Madrid holders in the quarterfinals.
Having seen his team closely during training in the past few days, Arteta feels that they are ready to do exactly that, and wants them to take up the challenge of playing on the biggest scene with the world watching and waiting to see if it is finally the year we are getting our hands on the Champions League trophy.
“I think individuals must intervene in these moments,” he added. “It’s a game for big players to stand out and make a difference.
“We must have the feeling that we must hold them tomorrow to go on this ground and express themselves. It’s a moment now to say:” Okay, who we are, who we are in a team, who I am as an individual and I will do my best to get there. “Play with this state of mind and let yourself go.
“We are so lucky. We put so much in the position that we are. We win it with our work and our enthusiasm because we have faced a lot of challenges and we have managed to compete at the highest level for 10 months. We win it now.
Learn more
Everything you need to know about PSG
Copyright 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. The authorization to use the quotes of this article is granted subject to the appropriate credit granted to www.arsenal.com as a source.
