Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia delivered an Arsenal verdict after his side reached a second consecutive Champions League final
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has admitted he and his Paris Saint-Germain teammates are bracing themselves for a "difficult" Champions League final against Arsenal. Luis Enrique's men booked their place in Budapest on Wednesday evening following a 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich, sealing a 6-5 aggregate triumph.
Kvaratskhelia, who has emerged of transfer interest to Arsenal, provided the assist for his team's goal on the night and has now given his assessment of the showpiece finale and the journey to reach it. He said: "Very happy we're in the final.
"We know it will be difficult against Arsenal. Bayern is one of the best teams right now. It was very difficult. The hardest one in the season. We showed we can play against these teams. I will give everything for this badge."
Enrique was equally thrilled with the result and is presumably hoping for a memorable May in which PSG secure a third piece of silverware this campaign. He said: "We're so happy to reach a second Champions League final in a row. In two days I'm going to celebrate my birthday. I'm very happy. We're in the next phase of the competition, the final of the Champions League. We want to give our supporters that kind of gift."
A last-gasp Harry Kane goal set nerves jangling, but PSG held firm in the dying seconds to spark jubilant scenes at the final whistle. In the Arsenal dressing room the previous night, the mood was equally euphoric, with Mikel Arteta leaving nobody in any doubt about how he felt.
The Gunners boss said: "It's an incredible night, we made history again together, and I cannot be happier, prouder for everybody that's involved in this football club.
"The atmosphere, our support has created the energy, the way he managed every ball with us, they made it special and unique, I never felt that in the stadium.
"We knew how much it meant to everybody, we put everything, the boys did an incredible job, and after 20 years and a second time in our history, we are back in the Champions League final."
As the celebrations got underway, numerous Arsenal players had revenge on their minds after being knocked out by PSG at the semi-final stage last season. Before the two sides meet in Hungary, attention turns to the Premier League title, with Arsenal just three matches away from finally getting their hands on that coveted domestic trophy.
Five points separates them from Manchester City, though that deficit could shrink to just two this coming Saturday and the following Tuesday, with Pep Guardiola's side playing first before contesting their game in hand.
Relegation-threatened West Ham United, Championship-bound Burnley and Crystal Palace - potentially days before their own European final - round off the Gunners' remaining fixtures this season.