Mikel Arteta: Arsenal Women 'inspiration' reaching Champions League final 

Arsenal boss Arteta has hailed Renée Slegers' 'inspirational' side and wants to emulate AWFC 

Gunners boss Arteta has hailed Renee Slegers side after AWFC reached the women's Champions League final, after beating Lyon 4-1 in France on Sunday evening to win the last four clash 5-3 on aggregate. 

With AWFC set to play Barcelona in the showpiece final in Lisbon next month, Arteta is looking to emulate Slegers' side when the Gunners play PSG at the Emnirates on Tuesday evening. 

Arteta hailed the club's women’s Champions League finalists saying: “The women’s team has been an inspiration," adding: “they’ve shown a pathway for us…”

Gabi Martinelli also praised Arsenal Women saying reaching the Champions League final in Lisbon a week before the men's showpiece event in Munich.

He said: “We are really proud of the girls and we are going to try to do the same.”

Arteta then previewed the eagerly-awaited men's last four clash at the Emirates on Tuesday evening.

"You sense the energy, something unique. We can’t wait to play the game tomorrow." 

He added: “We are making history with our beautiful story but we want more…”

“We want to do something special [but] we need to earn the right to be in that final.”

“Tomorrow we have a massive opportunity to demonstrate who we are [because] "who we are is our biggest strength.

"We can adapt to different contexts…”

Arteta added: “We are here to make people happy. To create history. We are very close. And now we have to take that opportunity and make it happen.”

Assessing the clash against the Parisian billionaires that his Arsenal side dismissed 2-0 back in October, Arteta added: “This is an opportunity to say: ‘This is who we are as a team and as individuals…’”

“You have to play your game and deliver your quality in key moments...You have to play your game and deliver your quality in key moments.” 

Reflecting on Arsenal's superb 5-2 aggregate victory over Real Madrid in the last round, which included the never-to-be-forgotten 3-0 victory over Carlo Ancelotti's side at the Emirates, prior to a comprehensive 2-1 win in the Bernabeu, Arteta said: “Going to the Bernabeu is the biggest test you can have as a team. I think we managed the team really well and that brings confidence…”