Luis Enrique reveals how PSG plan to deal with major Arsenal threat

Luis Enrique’s PSG take on Arsenal for a place in the Champions League final (Picture: Getty)

Luis Enrique says Paris Saint-Germain have no special plan to nullify Arsenal’s strength at set-pieces and his side will ‘prepare the same way’ they would when facing any team in Ligue 1.

The Gunners’ threat from corners and free-kicks has proved an invaluable weapon over the past two seasons and set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has been widely credited with transforming the club’s fortunes in this area.

The 43-year-old Frenchman has even become something of a cult figure amongst Arsenal fans in recent months, so much so that he was given his own mural outside the Emirates in December.

Bizarrely, though, Arsenal had not scored from a direct free-kick since as far back as September 2021 before facing Real Madrid. Declan Rice put that right with a pair of breathtaking strikes beyond Thibaut Courtois in north London to send the hosts on their way.

Arteta will no doubt be hoping for more of the same when Arsenal return to Champions League action in just over a weeks’ time for the first leg of their eagerly anticipated semi-final clash with PSG.

‘We will prepare in the same way as we did against Liverpool,’ Enrique said when asked about Arsenal’s set-piece threat at a press conference today.

‘Liverpool are a team that has at least as much potential as Arsenal, if not more.

The Gunners beat Madrid 5-1 on aggregate to reach the last four (Picture: Getty) PSG survived a scare against Villa to book their spot in the semi-finals (Picture: Getty)

‘Aston Villa also had great potential in this area, as do the majority of Ligue 1 teams.

‘We will not prepare our team based on this aspect of the game in particular.

‘But it is obvious that we must be competitive everywhere.’

Enrique insists PSG’s own capabilities from set-pieces should not be overlooked ahead of their trip to Arsenal.

‘Throughout the season, and the previous one, we’ve constantly changed our attacking set pieces,’ the Spaniard added.

‘We use them depending on what seems appropriate to us: direct corners, short corners, indirect corners… it depends on the opponent

‘We have scored goals in this area and I consider our level to be very good.’

It’s ‘unfair’ to single out Mendes for criticism, says Enrique (Picture: Getty)

PSG left-back Nuno Mendes has, at times, faced criticism for defensive weaknesses in his game since arriving in the French capital from Sporting in 2022.

But Enrique insists it is ‘unfair’ to single out Mendes in this way, describing the Portuguese speedster as a ‘fighter jet’ and a ‘unique player’.

‘I think it would be very unfair to only look at one player from the squad. Everyone makes mistakes,’ Enrique said.

‘Nuno Mendes is a fighter jet. He’s always ready, 100 per cent. Show me a player who never makes mistakes.

PSG and Arsenal are both looking to win the Champions League for the first time (Picture: Getty)

‘I suffered against him when I was in charge of Spain. He’s a unique player, capable of attacking and defending.

‘You can look for weaknesses, as is the case with all players. But I believe his qualities are wonderful.’

Footage captured in the immediate aftermath of PSG’s quarter-final second leg with Aston Villa showed a furious-looking Ousmane Dembele refusing to accept the man-of-the-match award.

The France forward later said that he and his team-mates were guilty of allowing Villa a route back in by assuming the tie was already dead.

Asked for his thoughts on Dembele’s reaction, Enrique replied: ‘I think the match against Aston Villa had mixed components.

‘It was controlled at the beginning, but we lost control later on. Then it came back.

‘That disappointed Ousmane. He’s one of the players with the greatest ability to manage these moments. He wanted to convey that.

‘But ultimately, it’s important for the players to know that the goal is to give 100 per cent. But sometimes the results are different. But the team needed recognition.

‘We deserved to progress from the quarter-finals.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.