Mikel Arteta said Arsenal must do something special to reach the Champions League final after their semi-final first-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
Arteta watched on as Ousmane Dembele struck the decisive blow in the fourth minute at the Emirates Stadium to hand the Ligue 1 champions a slender 1-0 advantage.
But Arsenal had their chances. Mikel Merino had a second-half header ruled out for offside and visiting goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made several brilliant saves.
Indeed, Arsenal failed to score in a home Champions League game for the first time since a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in the last 16 in February 2016.
Only against Newcastle United in January in the EFL Cup (six) have the Gunners had more big chances without scoring (six) this season than their three against PSG.
And Arteta believes that his team's display against Luis Enrique's side can give them positives ahead of their trip to the Parc des Princes next Wednesday.
"We're at half-time. Half-time and my message will be exactly the same as it was against Real Madrid after we won 3-0 at home," Arteta told reporters.
"We have to go to Paris and win. We are more than capable of doing it. I saw two very good teams, but the margins are small. They had efficiency in front of the goal.
"The keeper as well made a difference to see the result that we saw tonight.
"You want to be in the Champions League final, you have to do something special, and we're going to have to do something special in Paris."
Following the first leg, Arsenal are handed a 27% chance of reaching the final to PSG's 73%, according to Opta's supercomputer.
Arsenal were playing in their first semi-final since losing to Manchester United over two legs in 2009, bidding to reach their first final in the competition since 2006.
The Champions League offers the Gunners their only chance of lifting a trophy this season after Liverpool sealed the Premier League title last Sunday.
Arteta has come under increasing pressure to deliver major honours in north London, having failed to win silverware since their FA Cup success back in 2020.
Asked if the tie was still 50-50, Arteta said: "I don't know the percentage, but we have a lot of chances to be in the final.
"You have to do something special in the competition and the time to do it is going to be in Paris."
Nosadlmrty
0
Woman Chester and cry Madrid talking more
Idintcareatall
0
At parc des prince wish for another 1-0 for, it might end up with you taking a bombastic tantalizing beating.
edwardekamenya
1
i don't think so..., PSG is proving to be tough this season. Based on the fact that they have studied the Arsenal game, PSG are changing style and adopting very quickly, they have speed. Arsenal MUST play a very experienced number 9 &10 players who can disrupt the defense of PSG. Arteta should consider playing Sterling or Gabriel Jesus', because in the Liverpool game, only Nunez brought a breakthrough for Liverpool.
Sallymianitse
1
That’s what they all say even in first leg….
Zuhdeimsz
1
If Liverpool barely manage to cope with their intensity so Arsenal can? Hell no, its over.
raaaklmpsu
0
I can bet all my money plus myself that Arsenal won’t even see a draw at pac des prince. Paris at home is a no brainer. Their level automatically goes beyond threshold.
Don’t talk much
oladipooluwasayo
1
Which this arsenal team I tell you PSG are a better team.
yuucdeptu
2
Building castles in the air, Counting your chicks before they hatch
yeuacilpst
3
I can bet all my money plus myself that Arsenal won’t even see a draw at pac des prince. Paris at home is a no brainer. Their level automatically goes beyond threshold.