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By Filip Mishov
Surprisingly enough, last season’s Premier League runners-up and the Ligue 1’s champions do not boast a rich history of meeting one another in European competition, but whether one takes a look at the past or the present, it does not matter, as everything is related to the term – undefeated. Both Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are undefeated since the start of the season, in all competitions, and additionally, their two previous meetings in the Champions League’s group stage back in 2016. Those games finished 1-1 in Paris and 2-2 in London.
Another point they share is the fact that they both have a Spanish coach at the helm, who favours a possession-based as well as attacking style of play and it is not a surprise that only a couple of teams have scored more goals (12) than the Gunners in the England’s top-tier, while the Parisians possess the top-scoring squad in France with 20 goals already scored this season.
The less experienced Arteta may have a few wonderkids like Bukayo Saka and the up-and-coming, Ethan Nwaneri in his squad, but the former Champions League winner with Barcelona from 2014/15 – Luis Enrique enjoys the presence of the string pulling young midfielder – João Neves, who Mikel would surely love to coach, as the Portuguese has exceeded everyone’s expectations and quickly became an irreplaceable cog in PSG’s starting XI.
The 20-year-old has already racked up five assists in just six Ligue 1’s appearances, which is impressive to say the least, especially given that the product of Benfica’s academy is playing in a deep-lying role, but the more experienced Thomas Partey and Declan Rice will provide Neves’ most difficult test yet at the Emirates Stadium. However, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha are back to help their compatriot after missing the last match through illness and injury, respectively, and Gianluigi Donnarumma was part of the travelling squad despite being out with injury since mid-September. But PSG will be without one of their key players in Ousmane Dembélé, who has been omitted from the roster by the Spanish coach due to disciplinary reasons following the Parisians’ win against Rennes on Friday. The main dilemma for Enrique will be who to replace the tricky winger in attack and whether Randal Kolo Muani warrants a place in the starting XI or will Marco Asensio be given the chance to lead the line as a false nine, perhaps leaving Gonçalo Ramos on the sidelines.
As for Arsenal, the former PSG’s loanee from his playing days – Arteta does not expect anyone back from the absentees (Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mikel Merino, Martin Ødegaard) to return, but hopes to have Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori available after the former missed the last couple of matches through a knee injury. The Spaniard hailed his squad’s strong mentality shown in recent weeks, but pointed out that PSG will provide an exceptional test for his players ahead of the match.
With Arsenal snatching a point against Atalanta in Bergamo thanks to David Raya‘s heroics in the opening round, the Gunners will be eager to display an improved performance in front of their own fans, while one can’t help but wonder whether Luis Enrique will regret his decision to leave Dembélé at home for such a difficult match in London.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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