Arteta with 2 big changes | Predicted Arsenal line-up (4-3-3) vs PSG with Timber decision
Arsenal take on Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final at Parc des Princes tonight.
The Gunners suffered a 1-0 loss to the French champions in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
They were outplayed in the opening 20 minutes and were fortunate to concede not more than one goal.
Arsenal had a couple of big chances to score through Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard but failed to capitalise.
Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos also squandered clear-cut chances for the visitors in the final stages.
The Gunners now need to overturn a 1-0 deficit to make their first Champions League final since 2006.
Formation: 4-3-3
Predicted Line-up:
David Raya was helpless for Ousmane Dembele’s goal, which went in off the woodwork. However, he was brilliant thereafter and made an important save to deny Desire Doue. The Spaniard will hope to keep a clean sheet in Paris tonight.
Timber missed the 2-1 Premier League loss to Bournemouth with a knock sustained against Les Parisiens. Manager Mikel Arteta said he will be assessed but we anticipate the Dutchman will return at right-back ahead of Ben White.
The former Ajax man had a tough start against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia but had better control as the game progressed. His one-on-one defending should get him the nod over White, who is still finding his rhythm after knee surgery.
The rest of the backline should stay the same. William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior are poised to be paired in the heart of the defence. Myles Lewis-Skelly was brilliant from left-back in the first leg. He provided a brilliant through ball for Martinelli, who could not beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Further forward, Arteta has received a huge boost from the first leg with Partey back from suspension. The Ghanaian midfielder was a big miss, as Declan Rice and Mikel Merino had to double up to do some of the defensive work. With Partey’s availability, Rice can be unleashed from the number eight role.
The Englishman opened the scoring in the Cherries defeat last weekend. The Gunners need him to turn up with a goal contribution. Martin Odegaard’s form has been inconsistent and he was the subject of criticism from some fans due to his lack of creativity against Les Parisiens at the Emirates.
Odegaard bagged the assist for Rice’s goal on Saturday. Hopefully, he can carry the momentum into tonight’s encounter. Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are guaranteed starters from the right and left wing respectively.
Martinelli squandered a big scoring opportunity in the first leg and must be more clinical with his finishing. Leandro Trossard was likewise guilty of doing the same. Alongside White, he could drop to the bench from the weekend loss.
Arsenal look a better attacking force with a physically built striker upfront. Merino has been brilliant as a makeshift option since February with six goals and four assists. The Spaniard should get the nod ahead of Trossard to lead the Gunners’ attack.
How Arsenal could line up vs PSG
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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