Champions League live coverage: Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal

There are two words Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has used frequently since his team’s 1-0 defeat to PSG in the first leg: “Small margins.”

While many on the outside were critical of Arsenal’s performance at the Emirates last Tuesday, Arteta was the calmest person in the room in his post-match press conference.

It was his firm belief that there was very little between the two teams and that the result could have gone Arsenal’s way if it were not for the “small margins.”

He reiterated that notion again in his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s second leg and said he’s seen a “huge enthusiasm” and “huge energy” from his players in training this week as they aim to become just the third team to reach the Champions League final after losing the first semifinal leg at home.

“We are a win away from being in the Champions League (final),” Arteta told reporters. “We are in one of the most beautiful cities in the world against a great opponent – it doesn’t get much better than that. We are here to make history, and we have a big opportunity tomorrow.

“We bring a result that gives us so much clarity about what we have to do. A lot of learning from the first leg as well and how small the margins are between the two teams.

“The result, in my opinion, should have been very different to that one. So (Wednesday night), another opportunity to prove that and earn the right to be in the final.”

Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the match, Arteta said this is Arsenal’s biggest game “for a long time” and – unsurprisingly – again used his favorite phrase when talking about the first leg.

“It’s not just where we want to be; we want to make the final,” he said. “We are very close.