Arsenal will be welcoming Paris Saint-Germain to the Emirates in their return fixture of the UEFA Champions League group stage. Both the teams are amongst the 5 who have already qualified for the Round of 16. But the game will not be short on desire and intensity with the coveted No.1 spot to contend for. Both the teams haven’t actually been on song and have ground their way out on multiple occasions and naturally would be looking to avoid the 2nd spot. Arsenal rode their luck and a shockingly profligate Edinson Cavani to escape with a 1-1 draw in their 1st leg against the French champions.
Arsenal are coming on the back of a match of contrasts against old foes Manchester United, where they looked completely disjointed and scrappy but still came out of the match with a rare point from the Old Trafford. Arsene Wenger has decisions to make before selecting the team with Olivier Giroud knocking on the door with another scoring cameo, after his match-winning brace against Sunderland. But Wenger might stick with Sanchez up top initially, with PSG more than capable of overpowering them in midfield. Sanchez’s tendency to come deep might well be a boon in the match.
PREDICTED ARSENAL XI VS PSG (4-2-3-1)
DEFENCE
Petr Cech will be in goal and will look to keep a clean sheet against the intimidating French side. Hector Bellerin’s unfortunate injury which has ruled him out for a minimum of 4 weeks will again see Carl Jenkinson line-up at right-back. He was fairly impressive against Manchester United and will be keen to impress again. The central defensive pairing of Laurent Koscielny and Mustafi will once again look to nullify the PSG attack and they will want to be less porous than last time. Nacho Monreal will be stationed at left-back.
MIDFIELD
Granit Xhaka might start the match after being on the bench last time out. He will most likely be joined by Frances Coquelin in a double pivot with the robust pair looking to snuff out PSG attacks and start counters of their own. One of them has to diligently screen the defence to avoid a repeat of the reverse fixture where they were repeatedly carved open. Mesut Ozil will be in the No.10 role but will need to step up his creativity which has been lacking this season.
ATTACK
Ramsey is not a winger and shouldn’t be played there. Iwobi might get a look in with Walcott on the opposite side. Sanchez will once again lead the line. Giroud to start? Maybe not. He’s perhaps best used as a super-sub these days!
