Ever since Qatar Sports Investments bought PSG in 2011, the president Nasser al-Khelaifi has been desperate to attract his close friend Wenger to take over.
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As revealed previously by The Daily Telegraph, Wenger has always been the dream manager of PSG’s Qatari owners and the French sports newspaper L’Equipe reported yesterday that Wenger had rejected three separate approaches in 2011, 2013 and 2014.
The main reason behind the Frenchman’s 20 years in north London?
“I know well the owners, but I feel always I remained loyal to Arsenal Football Club because I think it’s a club that has the qualities I love”, Wenger said.
“I have come here with my experience and with a lot of demands”. I love my country.
Wenger said the game against PSG will be a good test for his team.
“They will be continue to be the dominant team in France but they lost more than a player with Ibrahimovic”.
Former Sevilla boss Emery has had a hard start since taking over at PSG in the summer as the French champions have lost to Monaco and drawn with Saint Etienne.
He masterminded three consecutive Europa League triumph and PSG are hoping that he is the manager to guide them to Champions League success.
Arsenal have made it past the group stages in the last 13 seasons but have been knocked out at the last 16 stage in the last six campaigns.
The ex-France global, now 37 and most recently player-coach for Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League, started his professional career with PSG in 1996 before moving to Arsenal the following year.
The Italy midfielder says knowing Arsenal’s game plans will make the match easier for his side but conceded that the Gunners are a strong team with good individual players.
“We have to face the match in the same way that we would if Ibra was playing”. In the second half, I think he combined much better. This side still has plenty of talent but they are now missing the leader they once had so it will be important for the likes of Angel De Maria and Thiago Silva to show some fight. They are a big club with a great coach and great players.
The tricky Champions League opener against PSG will now be met with far more optimism than it would have without Koscielny holding firm in front of gooalkeeper, Petr Cech. He was visibly unnerved by the tone of some of the local questioning at his pre-match media conference at Parc des Princes on Monday.
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The 31-year-old suffered a facial injury in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Southampton having drawn the Gunners level with a superb overhead kick on his birthday.
