Mikel Arteta Laments ‘Poison In My Veins’ After Brutal Arsenal Defeat To PSG

That painful European defeat continues to haunt the Gunners boss. According to The Athletic, Mikel Arteta admitted he still feels that bitterness like "poison in the blood." The Basque manager directly echoed comments made by Arsène Wenger in The Guardian back in 2016. The legendary French manager famously described every setback as a scar on the heart that could shorten a fierce competitor's lifespan.

That lingering pain stems directly from the agonizing finale against Paris Saint-Germain on May 30 in the Champions League. Both sides had battled to a 1-1 draw before the decisive penalty shoot-out. Brazilian center-back Lucas Beraldo then sealed an unforgettable triumph for the Parisian side after nerve-shredding drama. Having turned out for the French capital club early in his playing career, the Spanish manager knows full well the psychological weight of his former team's coronation.

Far from sinking into resignation, the London tactician intends to use that scar to fire up his squad in the Premier League. Crowned champions of England the previous May after a 22-year wait, Arsenal delivered an immediate response on the pitch. The British outfit reeled off seven consecutive wins to open the campaign before slipping to a 3-0 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion. That pent-up frustration now serves as a tactical springboard to sustain maximum intensity week after week.

The Iberian coach's path now mirrors the trajectory mapped out by Luis Enrique with the Parisian outfit. Recently signed to a new deal running through June 2030, the Arsenal boss earns close to £20 million per year. Backed with such certainty, he is planning firmly for the long haul. Both Spanish tacticians share the exact same contract horizon and harbor ambitions of undisputed dominance across the continent. With Paris gearing up to host Le Mans on Saturday, October 10 in league action before squaring off against Manchester City, this long-range duel looks set to shape the next chapters of European football.