Arsenal are ready to play hosts for their first home game of the Champions League as they welcome French giants PSG to the Emirates on Tuesday.
The new UEFA Champions League format does offer a different level of competitiveness, but this being the first edition, it is still unclear how many points any team needs to finish in the top eight. While top clubs need to win every game, Arsenal are no stranger to the task at hand, as they will look for a first victory in this season’s competition when they host PSG at the Emirates.
The Gunners kicked off their campaign with a goalless draw away at Atalanta. Goalkeeper David Raya was the hero following his double save from a Mateo Retegui penalty early in the second half. Both sides were happy with the draw, as neither team went on with their attacking game; they seemed happy to sit back and defend.
Mikel Arteta will be pleased with his side’s start to the new season, especially with the way his players handled a tough period away from home when they faced Tottenham, Atalanta, and Manchester City. Arsenal will now look for their first win in the UEFA Champions League as they welcome PSG to north London for a crunch clash.
PSG continue to dominate Ligue 1, but they have not been as convincing in the UEFA Champions League this season. They did manage a narrow victory over La Liga side Girona, who held their own during the 90 minutes away in Paris. But a late Paulo Gazzaniga howler cost them two points and handed PSG the win.
Luis Enrique will hope that their performance against Newcastle United, when PSG last visited England, will not be repeated and that they will overcome an otherwise formidable Arsenal side. Following their struggle to break down a resilient Girona side, PSG made light work at the weekend with a convincing win over Rennes.
The Parisians were one of the 15 sides that secured three points in the opening matchday and will hope to climb up the table with another set of three points on Tuesday. However, the clash away at Arsenal represents one of their most challenging in this league phase of the competition, one that Enrique will hope to get out with flying colours.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
Arsenal are close to having a near-strength squad ahead, as some of the injured stars has resumed training. Mikel Merino, who was predicted to return after the international break, joined the full group in training, while Takehiro Tomiyasu was also present.
There were concerns about Riccardo Calafiori following the win over Leicester City. But he, too, was seen in full training and is pencilled in for a start. The only visible absentee was Ben White, who continues to nurse a problem, meaning Jurrien Timber will be expected to keep his place at right-back. There will not be significant changes to the lineup ahead of the PSG clash, meaning we could see a similar setup as on Saturday.
Thomas Partey and Declan Rice are best placed to keep their places in central midfield, while Kai Havertz is Arsenal central striker. Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling have a big European pedigree, but Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are the current first choices to start in the wide areas.
David Raya was fit again over the weekend and will start against PSG at the Emirates, while Leandro Trossard will keep his place after a tremendous display over the weekend. Overall, Arsenal are expected to name an unchanged lineup to face the Parisians.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Saka, Partey, Rice, Martinelli; Havertz, Trossard
Paris Saint-Germain
The big news coming out of the PSG camp ahead of the trip to London to take on Arsenal concerns Ousmane Dembele and his reported bust-up with manager Luis Enrique. The Spaniard has since decided to leave the winger back in Paris and has not included him in the travelling squad to North London.
There are some positives with the squad as well, as Enrique will have Gianluigi Donnarumma, Desire Doue, Vitinha, and Marco Asensio back in the squad. Nuno Mendes is still a doubt to start despite being named among the travelling party, as Lucas Beraldo might continue at left-back if the Portuguese international is not deemed fit to start.
Enrique must make vital selection decisions and get them right, as Arsenal pose a massive threat in this clash. Lee Kang-In might get selected to play in the false-nine role owing to Dembele’s absence, which could see Randal Kolo Muani being pushed to the right-hand side of the attack.
Bradley Barcola, who has been in hot form lately, will continue on the left. The absence of Goncalo Ramos continues to hamper Enrique’s attacking options. Joao Neves will stick with his position at the base of the midfield, with Warren Zaire-Emery and Fabian Ruiz likely to feature alongside the Portuguese youngster.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Beraldo; Zaire-Emery, Neves, Ruiz; Kolo Muani, Lee, Barcola
Key Stats
- Arsenal are unbeaten in all competitions this season.
- Arsenal have scored at least two goals in their last three home matches against PSG in all competitions,
- Arsenal have failed to score in their last two UEFA Champions League games but have never drawn a blank in three consecutive clashes in the continental tournament.
- PSG have suffered defeats in the last three visits to play English opposition in the Champions League.
- PSG are unbeaten in all competitions this season.
Player to Watch
Declan Rice
A big game calls for a top-rated midfielder to control the proceedings, and there will be numerous midfield battles along the way in a clash like this one. PSG will pack the midfield with their ideas, and it is up to Arsenal and Declan Rice to ensure they have control over home soil.
Rice has yet to kick-start his season in a big way, and this could be the game he makes a big impact on proceedings. While he has been terrific defensively, we are yet to see the England international assert his dominance in controlling the game and its tempo, as Tuesday night could be when Mikel Arteta pushes him towards achieving that objective.
Prediction
Arsenal 2-0 PSG
PSG are without their central striker and have decided to keep one of their in-form attackers at home following Ousmane Dembele’s reported bust-up with Luis Enrique ahead of the game against Arsenal. Hence, the pressure might fall on Bradley Barcola and Randal Kolo Muani to deliver the goals, which might be difficult against a well-drilled Arsenal defence.
The Gunners, on the other hand, quashed the idea that they cannot create chances without Martin Odegaard, as they put in one of the most vibrant attacking displays without their captain at the weekend. Hence, the Arsenal will use this game as another opportunity to spend time without their skipper and put PSG to the sword for a solid win and a clean sheet at the Emirates.