UEFA have announced who will officiate Arsenal's clash against Paris Saint-Germain. Luis Enrique and Mikel Arteta will lock horns at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final showdown.
Ousmane Dembele fired PSG to victory at the Emirates Stadium last week, breaking the deadlock inside the opening five minutes. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia found the 27-year-old winger unmarked on the edge of the box, capping off a brilliant 26-pass sequence with a clever strike.
The Gunners pushed and probed for an equaliser, but the Parisians held onto their lead. Arsenal will be determined to overturn the one-goal deficit in the French capital, but they'll have to tread carefully with a place in the final still up for grabs.
UEFA have now announced that Felix Zwayer will officiate that semi-final second leg at the Parc des Princes. He'll be joined on the pitch by his assistants Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz.
Referee Felix Zwayer will take charge in Paris.
Referee Felix Zwayer will take charge in Paris. (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Harm Osmers has been named as the fourth official. And completing an all-German team, Bastian Dankert has been appointed as the Video Assistant Referee, and he'll be assisted by Benjamin Brand at UEFA HQ in Nyon, Switzerland.
With Zwayer now in charge, Arsenal and PSG will have to be on their best behaviour. The 43-year-old referee has officiated six games in the Champions League this season, dishing out 31 cautions, three red cards and one second yellow card leading to a dismissal.
He hasn't been afraid to brandish a yellow card in the Bundesliga either. In 16 German top-flight games this season, Zwayer has issued 70 bookings and given five penalty kicks, yet he's not sent anyone off.
Netherlands players Virgil van Dijk and Xavi Simons protest to the referee.
German referee Felix Zwayer shows a yellow card to Netherlands captain Virgil avn Dijk. (Image: Odd Andersen/AFP)
He's also enjoyed taking charge of matches in the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Nations League and the Saudi Pro League. Across all competitions, Zwayer has officiated 35 games this term, giving 181 yellow cards, four red cards and two second yellow cards leading to a dismissal and 11 penalties.
While players can't be ruled out of the Champions League final due to an accumulation of yellow cards across the campaign at this stage of the competition, suspension remains a great risk. Arteta already has enough big names ruled out due to injury, so he won't want anymore absentees in the final - if Arsenal can beat the French giants on Wednesday night.
In an interview with the PSG website ahead of the heavyweight bout, Enrique insisted his squad will play without fear. As quoted by French outlet RMC Sport, the Spaniard said: "First of all, we feel the excitement and pride going into this match.
Luis Enrique during PSG's clash with RC Strasbourg.
Luis Enrique during PSG's clash with RC Strasbourg. (Image: Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)
"I think we've grown as a team throughout the competition. Tomorrow will be a very intense match. Our fans will be behind us. We hope for this kind of match throughout the season.
"I think you have to be ready as a team - for any match - but we have to be attentive from start to finish, and that goes for both teams. We'll play our football, without thinking twice."
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters at the pre-match press conference, defender Achraf Hakimi said: "I think the key points will be to do the things we've been doing since the start of the season, to have personality without the ball, to not give our opponents gifts.
"Since I've been in Paris, we've felt the support of the fans. Tomorrow, we'll need it more than ever.
"Arsenal have to feel like they're at the Parc des Princes."
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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