Archive April 28, 2025

Arsenal’s run to the Champions League semi-finals has been a “beautiful story” but the Gunners “want much more”, says manager Mikel Arteta as they prepare to host Paris St-Germain.

Arteta said Tuesday’s first leg (20:00 BST) is “one of the biggest games the Emirates Stadium has seen”, and called on fans to “play every ball together”.

Arsenal beat reigning champions Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals and will now face French side PSG, who they beat 2-0 in the league phase in October.

The Gunners, who have never won the Champions League, last reached the semi-finals in 2009 where they suffered a 4-1 aggregate defeat by Manchester United.

Managed by Arsene Wenger, they also lost the 2006 final to Barcelona.

“You feel [the weight of history],” said Arteta on the eve of the semi-final first leg.

“Especially because we have a lot of people who have worked at this club for many, many years and they’ve never been in this position. That tells you how unique and beautiful this is.

“We are making history. It’s a beautiful story right now – but we want much more. “

Arsenal’s season has been hampered by injuries to key players including Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Ben White.

They have won only one of their past four Premier League matches, which helped Liverpool clinch the title on Sunday with four games to spare.

But in Europe they have won six of their eight league-phase games and also beat PSV Eindhoven 9-3 in the last 16 on their way to the semi-finals.

Arteta added: “The fact that we are here as one of the four best teams in Europe, it tells about the mindset, spirit and how much we really want it. “

His squad will be boosted by the return of Mikel Merino and White to training, but Arteta also challenged the Gunners faithful to create an even better atmosphere than in the 3-0 win against Real Madrid this month.

“I’m not exaggerating. Guys, bring your boots, your shorts and T-shirt and let’s play every ball together,” said Areta, who is eyeing his first major silverware at the club since the FA Cup in 2020.

Paris St-Germain looked far from serious Champions League contenders when they lost to Arsenal in the league phase.

The Ligue 1 side only won once and lost three of their first five games in Europe before squeezing through to the knockout-phase play-offs in 15th place.

But Luis Enrique believes his side are “a more complete team” seven months on.

“I think there are some big differences [from the Arsenal defeat],” the PSG manager said.

“I watched that match again and saw our progress. I think we’re a better team and we’ve shown that throughout the competition.

“We had the toughest league phase. At first I thought it was detrimental, but in the end it was positive because it helped us progress.

“We are a more complete team and we now want to write a page in history. “

PSG, who were crowned domestic champions again this month, are aiming for a first Champions League title despite the exits of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

After beating fellow French club Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the play-offs, they then overcame successive English oppositions in Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Before the semi-final, Luis Enrique said he sees similarities between his side and Arteta’s Arsenal.

“They are built as a team with collective strength – you can see that from the way they attack and defend,” he said.

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 BST on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Match officials do not referee matches any differently despite the “safety net” of video assistant referees, says retired Premier League official Darren Cann.

Cann, 56, retired this month after over 1,000 games as an assistant referee, including a record 579 in the Premier League.

The VAR system was introduced in the Premier League at the start of the 2019-20 season.

There is often a suggestion that referees do not make a decision on the pitch because they know VAR should make the right one.

“Not everybody likes VAR and I accept that view,” Cann told BBC Sport.

“But from a match official’s point of view, it is a really valuable tool.

“I would like to dispel a myth. People think we referee differently because there is VAR but nothing could be further from the truth.

“My mindset is to eradicate VAR from that 90 minutes by getting my decisions right. Our mindset is to make the right decision.

“If we do make a clear and obvious error we do have the safety net of VAR. “

Cann has welcomed the introduction of semi-automated offside, which came into the Premier League on the weekend of his final game.

The technology uses artificial intelligence and special cameras to make the judgement of tight offside calls quicker and easier.

“In previous seasons it could take up to 50 seconds just to draw the lines before they came to a decision,” said Cann.

“With semi-automated offside the lines are automatically drawn at the point where the ball is kicked. That speeds up the checks.

“It won’t affect the assistant referees on the pitch. They still make their calls. But it does speed up the checks. “

Cann’s biggest two games came in 2010 – the Champions League final and World Cup final.

“Before VAR I got an offside wrong in a Premier League game that still haunts me to this day,” said Cann.

“It was only half a yard and was one of those where a forward and defender cross over at high speed. I just got my timing wrong and flagged when I shouldn’t have.

Match officials do not referee matches any differently despite the “safety net” of video assistant referees, says retired Premier League official Darren Cann.

Cann, 56, retired this month after over 1,000 games as an assistant referee, including a record 579 in the Premier League.

The VAR system was introduced in the Premier League at the start of the 2019-20 season.

There is often a suggestion that referees do not make a decision on the pitch because they know VAR should make the right one.

“Not everybody likes VAR and I accept that view,” Cann told BBC Sport.

“But from a match official’s point of view, it is a really valuable tool.

“I would like to dispel a myth. People think we referee differently because there is VAR but nothing could be further from the truth.

“My mindset is to eradicate VAR from that 90 minutes by getting my decisions right. Our mindset is to make the right decision.

“If we do make a clear and obvious error we do have the safety net of VAR. “

Cann has welcomed the introduction of semi-automated offside, which came into the Premier League on the weekend of his final game.

The technology uses artificial intelligence and special cameras to make the judgement of tight offside calls quicker and easier.

“In previous seasons it could take up to 50 seconds just to draw the lines before they came to a decision,” said Cann.

“With semi-automated offside the lines are automatically drawn at the point where the ball is kicked. That speeds up the checks.

“It won’t affect the assistant referees on the pitch. They still make their calls. But it does speed up the checks. “

Cann’s biggest two games came in 2010 – the Champions League final and World Cup final.

“Before VAR I got an offside wrong in a Premier League game that still haunts me to this day,” said Cann.

“It was only half a yard and was one of those where a forward and defender cross over at high speed. I just got my timing wrong and flagged when I shouldn’t have.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, the seven-time world champion, claimed that despite only needing 17 minutes to complete the one frame required to reach the quarter-finals of the World Championship, he was “nowhere near” his best level.

After Sunday’s second session, O’Sullivan, 49, held a 12-point lead over China’s Pang Junxu, and the frame’s first 17 points led to a 95-point break on Monday evening.

O’Sullivan, a fan favorite, won his first two competitive games after taking his cue and throwing it into a bin at the Championship League event in January, winning 10-4 over Ali Carter and 13-4 against Pang.

The Englishman has stated that he is trying to “rebuild” his game and has not competed for three months.

O’Sullivan was unhappy with his performance despite advancing to the eighth Crucible world title, which was still on pace for.

When asked to rate his current level of play against a ten, he responded with “two” and said that he would need to improve if he wanted to win the tournament.

He continued, “I need game time and I’m attempting to get my game back.

As long as I play my game, I don’t care who I play. I always back myself if I can play at or above my best level, regardless of who is in the chair.

It can click at any time, but I’m not sure if that’s even close.

The 2023 champion, Luca Brecel, also won in a hurry, only needing one frame to defeat 2016 runner-up Ding, who finished second.

Ding won the opening frame, but Brecel won 11 more to take complete control. On Sunday, Ding won three of the final four frames, but he was unable to earn a point on Monday.

O’Sullivan will face China’s Si Jiahui, who reached the semi-finals two years ago, while Brecel will now face 2019 champion Judd Trump in the quarter-finals.

Brecel said, “I felt quite good, but not at all good enough to win.”

Steve Davis, a six-time champion, said the Belgian was one of the most entertaining players at the tournament in a statement to BBC TV.

You can’t teach Luca’s attitude toward the game and his ability to play without worrying about missing a ball, Davis said.

World No. 1 defeated Shaun Murphy’s comeback earlier on Monday to end a thrilling last-16 tussle.

When Trump took the lead 12-6, Murphy capitalized by capturing four frames straight after missing a red in the middle pocket.

However, 2019 champion Trump held his ground for a 13-10 victory in the 23rd frame.

If he wins the world title, which is worth $500,000, the 35-year-old could become the first player to top $2 million in prize money in a single season.

Shaun was in a world of his own for four or five frames, according to Trump, who spoke to BBC Two.

“In the past, I’ve been a little hard on myself, but now I’m much more resilient mentally and have come to terms with the losses as motivation.”

This year, I’m much more confident and hitting the ball much better. I feel much more confident in myself and feel much more at ease.

He continued, “Practically every day you play], and you are looking to that next session every time.” On his chances of a second world title, he continued.

China’s Si defeated England’s Ben Woollaston, who defeated fourth seed Mark Selby in the first round, to advance to the quarter-finals in the other match of the afternoon session.

Si made it to the semi-finals two years ago, but he lost to eventual champion Brecel 17-15 after letting a 14-5 lead slip.

After coming back from 9-7 behind to win 10-10, Woollaston, 44th in the world, felt like he had missed a wonderful opportunity to recover from.

He stated, “I was 9-7 down and unsure of how. Because I had so many frames to win, I should have been 10-6 up.

Quarter-finals (best frame out of 25 frames, no final decision).

10: 00 BST

Chris Wakelin vs. Zhao Xintong

Mark Williams (6) vs. John Higgins (3)

14:30

Ronnie O’Sullivan (5) v Si Jiahui (13)

Judd Trump v. Luca Brecel (2)

19:00

Chris Wakelin vs. Zhao Xintong