Premier League or Champions League? Robert Pires names Arsenal’s priority

“The last three years they came second to Manchester City and, last year, Liv­er­pool. What they want, and the former Arsenal play­ers want too, is to see Mikel Arteta and [Martin] Odegaard, the cap­tain, lift the Premier League trophy.”

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Even so, Arsenal have a chance to reach that final in Budapest with a win over Atletico in front of the Emirates Stadium faithful. Pires gave his views on the second leg, revealing he’s expecting a defensive game.

“For both [teams], the truth, com­plic­ated, very dif­fi­cult,” Pires said. “We already know how both teams play, Atletico and Arsenal. Very defens­ive. And people can get upset, but I think play­ing like that is also a valid way. It’s not easy and they both do it very well.

“You can’t com­pare what PSG-Bay­ern was the other day. That’s another way to play and I like both, because both are com­plic­ated to do on the field. Atletico is going to be com­plic­ated.

“They came here in Octo­ber, they lost 4-0 and they know they are going to run a lot, that Arsenal are going to want to have pos­ses­sion because they have good play­ers to do it, and it is going to be a very close return semi-final. That’s for sure.”

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Whether Arsenal win or lose on Tuesday night, the full focus will certainly be on the Premier League from Wednesday morning until Sunday, May 24th.

If the Gunners qualify for the Champions League final, that won’t take place until Saturday, May 30th, a week after the Premier League season ends. And if Arsenal are eliminated, the Premier League will become their final hope of a trophy.

Either way, there will be no point thinking about the Champions League after Tuesday night. But for one more day, it’s all the fans will care about.