After years of heartbreak and near-misses, Arsenal are finally champions of England again — and even Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique believes they have earned every bit of it.
The Arsenal players and supporters celebrated long into the night on Tuesday after Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth officially handed Mikel Arteta’s side the Premier League title, ending a painful 22-year wait. Around the Emirates Stadium, thousands of fans filled the streets in emotional scenes as players including Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Jurriën Timber joined in the celebrations.
But while the title party is still going strong in north London, attention is already beginning to shift toward an even bigger prize: the Champions League final against PSG in Budapest on May 30.
And Luis Enrique knows exactly how dangerous Arsenal can be.
Speaking ahead of the final, the PSG manager described Arsenal as the best team in the world when they do not have possession — a huge compliment considering the Spanish coach has spent his career facing elite sides across Europe.
“I think they deserve to win the league — they have had a brilliant season,” Luis Enrique said.
“We already know what this Arsenal side is capable of. Without the ball, they are the best team in the world, and with it they can score a lot. That balance makes them an incredible team.”
The PSG coach believes it is only natural that Arsenal have reached this stage after years of steady progress under Arteta.
For three straight seasons, Arsenal fell agonisingly short in the title race. This year, though, they finally found the consistency and mentality needed to get over the line — something Luis Enrique credits heavily to Arteta’s leadership.
“When you look at Arsenal’s development, you can clearly see Arteta’s influence,” he said.
“He has built a winning mentality. Every season they have improved. They love to play football, but they also work incredibly hard without the ball. That competitive spirit is something Arteta has transmitted to his players.”
Arsenal’s rise has been gradual but deliberate. Last season they reached the Champions League semifinals before falling short, and now they return to Europe’s biggest stage with the chance to crown their domestic success with continental glory.
PSG, meanwhile, arrive in the final as defending European champions after surviving a dramatic semifinal against Bayern Munich. The French side advanced 6-5 on aggregate after one of the most thrilling knockout ties of the season.
Even so, Luis Enrique insists his players must focus more on themselves than on Arsenal.
“The most important thing for us is concentrating on our own level and our own football,” he explained.
“In this competition, every opponent forces you to adapt because the standard is so high. Bayern are a team that loves possession, so we had to adjust. But we have also grown during this tournament, and we are proud to be in another final.”
PSG are still monitoring the fitness of forward Ousmane Dembélé, who is dealing with a calf issue, while Achraf Hakimi continues his recovery from a thigh injury and hopes to return to training soon.
Before all eyes turn to Budapest, Arsenal still have one more Premier League match to play against Crystal Palace on Sunday, where they will finally lift the trophy in front of their supporters — a moment many fans feared might never come again.
Now, with the Premier League secured and a Champions League crown within reach, Arteta’s Arsenal stand on the verge of a season that could define an era.
