By Aaior K. Comfort

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that the team’s dramatic last-gasp victory against Leicester City will help “shape the character” of his squad as they prepare for today’s Champions League showdown against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

The Gunners secured a thrilling 4-2 win over Leicester on Saturday, scoring twice in injury time. Following this match, Arsenal is third in the Premier League, just one point behind leaders Liverpool.

Arsenal will host the French champions PSG at the Emirates Stadium, seeking their first win in the Champions League this season after a goalless draw against Atalanta.

In his pre-match press conference, Arteta discussed the significance of winning games from various positions, whether by dominating play or achieving last-minute victories. “It shapes the character and the body of the team, giving them the certainty that they can win in any context and adapt to different situations during matches,” he said. “The Champions League demands that; you can’t expect to dominate for 95 minutes against this kind of opposition.”

Arteta anticipates a challenging match against the French league leaders, who will be without forward Ousmane Dembélé due to a disciplinary decision following a heated exchange with PSG manager Luis Enrique after their 3-1 win over Rennes.

When asked about Dembélé’s absence, Arteta said, “We’re going to prepare as we always do for every possibility. They have many other options.”

He added that PSG is a formidable opponent, stating, “They are exceptional and dominate every phase of play. They have a clear intention of how they want to control the game, both with and without the ball. They are aggressive and confrontational.”

Arteta, who previously played for PSG, expressed admiration for Luis Enrique. “He has an unbelievable personality, huge character, and immense energy. He’s always very supportive of young players,” said Arteta. “What I love about him is that wherever he’s been, his influence is evident. You can feel it’s his team by the way his players behave and how they approach attacking and dominating games.”