Mansion Sports – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta opened up about his deep admiration for Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique, describing his former Barcelona teammate as “an example for everyone” in the coaching world.

The manager of The Gunners took time to reflect on their shared history at Camp Nou as he prepares to lead the Premier League champions into the major Champions League final against the French giants.

Barcelona Connection and the Leadership of Luis Enrique

As the countdown to the Champions League final continues, Arteta reflected on his relationship with the man who will become his opponent, Luis Enrique.

The two spent time together at Barcelona when Arteta was a developing young prospect and Luis Enrique was already an established senior player.

The Arsenal boss recalled the nickname given to him by the PSG coach and praised the Spanish man’s unwavering belief in his tactical philosophy, even while facing pressure from outside.

In an interview with MARCA, Arteta said: “I remember him with great respect because of how he was with the young players and what he was like as a player.”

“As a coach, he is someone who has the leadership to move in one direction and, with all the noise against him, continue along that path and ultimately win in the way he has done. He is an example for everyone.”

Managing Martin Zubimendi’s Transition in the Premier League

Responding to tactical attention directed toward Martin Zubimendi – who enters the final after four consecutive matches on the bench – Arteta firmly defended the midfielder’s debut season with Arsenal.

“I could give you a thousand examples of players who, in their first year in the Premier League, did not perform as well as the impressive season Zubi has had,” Arteta explained.

“However, it is also true that he played some matches that he had never played before, and that put him in a difficult position at certain moments.”

The manager explained that the decision to leave him on the bench was a calculated step to give him tactical breathing space and energy for the final, adding, “For me, it was a difficult decision, but I thought there were teammates better suited for certain types of matches. We gave Zubi rest, breathing space, for these final matches.”

Emotional Tribute to Family Sacrifice

The interview became deeply personal when the Arsenal manager was asked about the psychological and emotional burden of working at the highest level of European football.

Arteta appeared emotional when speaking about his wife, Lorena, and gave her full credit for maintaining stability at home while he deals with the relentless pressure of elite coaching.

“If there is one person who deserves a place in all of this success more than anyone, it is my wife Lorena,” he revealed.

“What she has done for me and my children cannot be expressed in words because I am, literally, not there. And when I am physically present, sometimes I am not mentally present.”

Pride in Arsenal’s Growing Influence in Spain

Looking beyond the club’s journey toward the 2026 World Cup in North America, Arteta expressed great pride in seeing several of his Arsenal players – David Raya, Mikel Merino, and Zubimendi – selected in Luis de la Fuente’s Spain squad.

The manager expressed full confidence in their tactical adaptability at international level, regardless of the specific roles given to them.

“I am 100 percent convinced that, whatever situation the coach needs, they will respond well… because they are genuine gems,” concluded the Basque manager, while highlighting the elite maturity his players have developed under his guidance.