Paris Saint-Germain manager, Luis Enrique, has praised Arsenal’s Premier League triumph, insisting the Gunners earned the title after an outstanding campaign.
Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for the league crown on Tuesday after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth, sparking celebrations across north London.
Thousands of supporters gathered around the Emirates Stadium to celebrate alongside Mikel Arteta’s players, with Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Jurriën Timber among those spotted during the festivities.
The Gunners will conclude their league season away at Crystal Palace on Sunday before lifting the Premier League trophy. Attention will then shift to the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on May 30.
Speaking ahead of the showdown, Enrique admitted Arsenal pose a huge challenge but believes PSG are ready for the occasion.
“I think they deserve to win the league, they have had a brilliant season,” Luis Enrique said at a press conference via ESPN.
“We have already played against this Arsenal side [in last season’s semi-final], so we know what they are capable of.
“Without the ball, they are the best team in the world, and with it they can score a lot. It is a wonderful combination for them.
“It makes sense that we are facing them in the final. We can look forward to a truly great final.”
Enrique also credited Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for transforming the club into serial contenders after several near misses in recent years.
“When you look at Arsenal’s stats, you can see that Mikel Arteta is a leader as a manager, who has instilled a winning mentality in the team,” Luis Enrique said.
“They have been improving for several seasons now; they love the ball, but they are the best team in Europe without it.
“They won the Premier League and they’re in the Champions League final this year after reaching the semifinals last season. They deserve to be there, and Arteta instils a competitive spirit in his players.”
