ARSENAL might need a miracle in Paris tonight, but should they produce one, the omens are in their favour.
Mikel Arteta is trying to lead the Gunners to a first-ever European crown, and the North Londoners find themselves with a stiff job on their hands as they travel to the French capital.
They will kick off at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday a goal down after a 1-0 home defeat last week.
Ousmane Dembele’s early strike proved the difference.
Arteta’s side don’t come into this huge fixture in the best of form, having slipped to a 2-1 loss to Bournemouth last weekend, as Dean Huijsen and Evanilson secured a crucial win for the Cherries.
However, if Arsenal are to do the improbable under the Paris night sky, the history books read that this could be their year.
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There are four omens that point towards it being a successful end to the campaign for them.
New winner every time in Munich
Every time the final has been hosted in the Bavarian capital, there is always a fresh winner of Europe‘s elite competition.
Germany‘s third largest city has played host to the final four times.
The first was at the Olympiastadion, where Nottingham Forest famously defeated Malmo in 1979, and the second was in 1993, when Marseille overcame AC Milan.
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Roberto di Matteo’s Blues won a dramatic shootout, with Didier Drogba the hero that night.
Hence, the omens also suggest that when European Cup finals are held in Munich, and English sides are involved, they win.
Strong on their travels
Arteta’s side are unbeaten in all of their last four away games on the continent.
Last time out, the Gunners beat Real Madrid 2-1 in a rousing comeback at the Bernabeu, and before that, they thrashed PSV 7-1 in the last 16.
In the league phase, they edged past Girona and smashed Sporting Lisbon.
They have never won five on the spin on the road in Europe, but Arteta will argue that that creates yet another chance for his players to make history.
PSG have lost all their Champions League semi-final home legs
The French side might have home advantage, but that might not be a good thing considering their history in the last four at the Parc des Princes.
They were beaten 1-0 by Borussia Dortmund in last year’s semi in Paris, and 2-1 by Manchester City in 2020/21.
They were defeated by AC Milan in their first semi-final appearance in 1995.
It must also be remembered that the Ligue 1 champions have never lifted the Champions League trophy, either.
This is new territory for them, too.
Every year the Pope has died, an English team has won the Champions League
Say it quietly, but Pope Francis’ tragic passing this year could be another sign that Arsenal could win it.
When Pope John Paul died in 1978, Nottingham Forest won Europe’s top prize.
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When Pope John Paul II passed in 2005, Liverpool remarkably won the trophy from the jaws of defeat against AC Milan, and when Pope Benedict XVI died in on New Year’s Eve 2022, Manchester City went on to win a maiden European title in May.
Could this be a sign for Arsenal?
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
