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Mikel Arteta to Support His Former Club in the Champions League Final

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Marcelo Cartaxo | Last updated May 8, 2025 6:39 PM ET

After Arsenal’s Champions League semifinal exit at the hands of PSG, manager Mikel Arteta made it clear who he'll be supporting in the final.

While many coaches and players prefer to move on after a tough loss, Arteta isn’t one of them. Following the second-leg defeat in Paris, the Spanish coach expressed his support for the French side during the post-match press conference.

His backing goes beyond the emotional aftermath of defeat. Arteta has a personal connection to PSG — he played for the club on loan from Barcelona in the early 2000s.

His stint in Paris helped lay the foundation for his professional career. After returning to Spain, he moved on to Rangers, then Real Sociedad, before making his name in England with Everton and later Arsenal.

Arteta retired as a player in 2016 and soon became Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, where he helped the club secure two Premier League titles. In 2019, he took over at Arsenal as head coach.

This season marked Arsenal’s first appearance in a Champions League semifinal since 2009. The last time the Gunners reached the final was in 2006.

On This Day in 2006 ️

Barcelona beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Champions League Final.pic.twitter.com/M9oHwYz9nk
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) May 17, 2024

Arteta brought Arsenal back to European stage

Arteta is only the third manager to lead Arsenal in Europe since the club’s golden era under Arsène Wenger, who managed from 1996 to 2018. Wenger won three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups, and seven Community Shields. His successor, Unai Emery, lasted just over a year before Arteta took the reins.

Since taking over, Arteta has won the FA Cup and two Community Shields, but recent results have sparked speculation about his future. Despite leading the Premier League by 10 points at one stage last season, Arsenal ultimately lost the title to Manchester City — raising questions about whether Arteta can deliver major trophies.

But for now, as the Champions League final approaches, Arteta will be watching — not as a coach who was knocked out, but as a former PSG player hoping the club that helped launch his journey can finally lift the trophy they've chased for years, reaching the final for only the second time in the team’s history.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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