football.london Arsenal writers name their teams to take on PSG in the Champions League ahead of Tuesday night’s clash at the Emirates
Arsenal take on Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League looking to secure a big win in their aims of finishing in the top eight and avoiding the play-off round. The competition and fixture schedule in general is putting weight on the shoulders of players, and there is a chance to not play the two extra games and winning here would be a boost to that.
However, an unbeaten start to the season, including three big results away from home, has allowed confidence to grow. A win here over PSG would only further that resolve and give Mikel Arteta the perfect end to this run of games before the next international break following the clash at the Emirates with Southampton on Saturday.
After such a draining game with Leicester, both physically and mentally, making the right selection for the team against PSG is paramount. Thankfully, football.london’s writers have offered their thoughts on what should be the best way to approach the game.
Tom Canton
After all the angst surrounding Riccardo Calafiori, the Italian was indeed in training as normal and as Arteta described it is in contention to play. Panic over… and he starts for me especially considering Ben White’s absence from the session.
Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Gabriel will of course start too with David Raya behind them. Getting a result against PSG will be reliant on the Gunners’ best being at their peak performance levels of course especially in defence.
Leandro Trossard proved his value with two (ish) goals at the weekend, the second being the winner despite some claiming it should instead be an own goal. He starts in an unchanged forward line that has the backing of Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri from the bench who both made their mark against Leicester.
Mikel Merino and Takehiro Tomiyasu being back in training is a real boost. Hopefully, they can have a real impact after the international break as Arteta begins to get the majority of his squad back from injury.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs PSG: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Trossard, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
Kaya Kaynak
If I were Mikel Arteta I wouldn’t be looking to make too many changes here. Even though they left it late, Arsenal were very good against Leicester and the team deserves to be rewarded accordingly.
David Raya is an obvious pick in goal, and with Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu still out I think you have to go big on the fitness of Riccardo Calafiori and play him at left-back, with Jurrien Timber at right-back.
In midfield I’m opting for Thomas Partey yet again. I thought he was good in the first half against Leicester and could pick apart PSG’s high line. In front of him I’m keeping the midfield two of Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice despite the temptation to play Ethan Nwaneri.
In the front line it’s Bukayo Saka on the right and Kai Havertz up top without a doubt. On the left there is an argument for Raheem Sterling after an impressive cameo, but I’m sticking with Gabriel Martinelli who looked back to his best against Leicester.
Kaynak’s Arsenal XI vs PSG: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Trossard, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.