Arsenal prepare to host Paris Saint-Germain in a pivotal UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg at Emirates Stadium this evening, and this is the team Mikel Arteta has selected.
The Gunners arrive in formidable form, having swept aside Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, including a commanding 3-0 home victory that underlined their strength at the Emirates. That result extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 matches, reflecting a consistency and resilience that has defined their campaign.
Confidence is high for the home side, not only due to their recent exploits but also their impressive record against their French opponents. Arsenal have not lost in their last five competitive meetings with Paris Saint-Germain, including a 2-0 win in the league stage at the Emirates earlier this season. The Gunners have outscored their visitors five to three over the last three encounters, and Paris Saint-Germain have not tasted victory in this fixture since 2016.
Arsenal’s home form in Europe has been particularly notable, with five wins and a draw from six Champions League matches at the Emirates this season, and a six-match unbeaten streak on home soil in all competitions. They have also been prolific in attack, scoring in each of their last eight Champions League fixtures, while maintaining a defensive discipline that has seen them score first in all of their last six matches and concede just once before half-time in that run.
The hosts’ ability to seize the initiative early and manage matches from the front has been a hallmark of their European run. With the home crowd behind them and a well-drilled tactical approach, Arsenal will look to establish a first-leg advantage before the return trip to Paris.
Paris Saint-Germain arrive having edged past Aston Villa 5-4 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, and while they have shown attacking threat, recent defensive frailties have seen them concede nine goals in their last six matches in all competitions.
I’d throw Nwaneri on right now. Sorry but whats Odegaard done today? Much of nothing yet again.
Really just white, take Odegaard off as well.
Can Arteta not see we are tired and we need suba
Some did say in January bring in bodies to help ?
Grateful for that PSG miss ……
Couldve finished us off by now. Sad to say but I’ll take 1-0 right now.
Outplayed…😟
Odergaard has been dismal. Again.
I agree I’m sorry to say. He’s not been at his best
SueP,
When are people going to wake up to the fact that Odegaard is just not that good.
Artetas tactics have been poor, I mean how blind do you need to be to think no subs were needed until 80+ mns
I thought people were being silly before, but I really do think we need a new captain. What a poor performance from him.
People here said I was crazy last year when I said this.
I’m one of them RSH.
Oh come on why wait 90 mins, what a joke tbh.
And yea, this is why Martinelli cant be starting next season. No goal scorers in the team. What a frustrating night.
Another season looking bleak
What a shame that Arsenal couldn’t match the previous tie.
A tough game and a tough opponent
Lucky it was just 0-1 ….. could have been worse
Outplayed tbh. PSG much better. All to do next week. Can still be done but we need to improve.
Seeing the coverage of our crocks watching from the sidelines was a sobering moment – and that didn’t include Maghaeles who was in the stands.
But you defended the club not improving the squad in January?
Lucky it was only 1-0. I thought we looked clueless, not sure of what we weere doing and looking to score from set pieces. Poor fair.
@Reggie
I don’t mind the 1-0 loss. What hurts, is to be outplayed like that and made to look like amateurs at home…🤬
We did look like amateurs and so did our coaches.
Well, I am really not surprised cause it was always going to be struggle without Partey. Another opportunity for us all to see how immense TP is to this team . Its amazing how some wanted/ want him gone .
You lost the game in midfield and is the job of the manager to find solution this is were I always find his wanting 90 minutes sub not trusting his bench only when his hand is forced by injury to the first eleven that is poor. Skelly zechenko timber white can all play as a midfielder I don’t know why Moreno Havart were bought if they were not effective as a midfielder
How comes no one was mentioning the injury’s when we beat Madrid, but now we lose the injury’s again become an issue. We can’t have it both ways.
Because if you want to you can always find an excuse
The reality is on the night PSG were the better team
If we are honest with ourselves you don’t look at us this season and say ……yeah they look like one of the best in Europe
No one in years time will be talking about the great football we play
PSG are a very good team a d pinned us back for the first 20 odd minutes.
After that, we got into our stride and had excellent chances to equalise and even go ahead.
That first rwenty minutes, when PSG ran through us, was due to Partey not being there and the second leg will be a different issue in my opinion.
Merino will be up front and I hope MA will use his substitutes better!!
Giving Nwaneri just five minutes was a complete joke and Raya was nearly caught out again with a lob.
Tweak these areas, have Partey back and, before we write our club off once again, let’s see how the final score looks.