It will be an interesting battle to finish top of the Group A when Arsenal host PSG in the midweek. Both the teams have already qualified for the next round and a win here might pit them against easier opponents in the knockout stages.
The Gunners fought back in Paris to claim a point in the opening match of the group in the last few minutes, and have won three subsequent games since then.
Team News
Arsenal
The Gunners will miss a host of players for this pivotal clash. Hector Bellerin, Santi Cazorla, Lucas Perez, Danny Welbeck and Per Mertesacker are all currently sidelined with injuries. Alexis Sanchez should be starting although he didn’t seem to have fully recovered from the injury he picked up during the international break in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at the weekend. But the Chilean is more likely to start on the left flank as Olivier Giroud will probably be the centre-forward judging by the form he is in.
PSG
The Parisians also have their own injury concerns and they are quite crucial ones as well. Angel Di Maria left the pitch during the first half in the win against Nantes, and Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot are expected to miss out on the match. Alphonse Areola and Layvin Kurzawa are doubtful. Verratti and Thiago Motta are both a yellow card away from a ban.
Team Lineup
Arsenal- David Ospina, Carl Jenkinson, Shkodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Francis Coquelin, Granit Xhaka, Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi, Alexis Sanchez
Paris Saint-Germain- Kevin Trapp, Serge Aurier, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Maxwell, Marco Verratti, Thiago Motta, Blaise Matuidi, Angel Di Maria, Edinson Cavani, Lucas Moura
Key Players
Arsenal- Surely Alexis Sanchez will be the most dangerous opponent for PSG. Although the Chilean looked isolated and ineffective against Manchester United in the weekend match, no one denies his ability to drive in the opponent’s half when he has the ball at his feet.
Next, comes Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman has been rejuvenated since returning from injury. He scored twice with his first two touches of the game against Sunderland last month and against United in the last game when he came on to score the leveller in the 89th minute.
PSG- Edinson Cavani opened the scoring the last time when Arsenal visited Paris and the towering forward will be a huge threat to the Gunners. He has scored 11 goals this season and has a shot accuracy of 51%. Angel Di Maria was difficult to stop last time and Arsenal knows this time will be no different.
Odds
Arsenal @ 2.25
Draw @ 3.50
PSG @ 3.40
