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Preview: Arsenal v PSG, team news, Xhaka to start + prediction

By on November 23, 2016

arsenal champions league

Arsenal will look to secure top spot in our Champions League group when we entertain Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates this evening.

We head in to the game sitting top of Group A on 10 points from our first four games but with only goal difference separating us from second-placed PSG, tonight’s game is pretty-much a shoot-out for who’ll finish top.

It’s been a while since we finished first in our Champions League group so it would be nice to end that run with a win tonight and give ourselves a better chance of getting a more favourable draw in the knockout stages.

We drew 1-1 in the reverse fixture in Paris back in September but we were fortunate to come away with anything so we’ll have to play a lot better against the French champions this evening if we want to pick up all three points.

Team News

Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott both missed training on Tuesday due to toe injuries but they pair are expected to be in contention to start this evening.

Hector Bellerin remains out with an ankle injury so Carl Jenkinson should continue at right-back while Santi Cazorla remains on the sidelines with a niggling Achilles injury.

Per Mertesacker and Danny Welbeck are nursing long-term injuries but Lucas Perez is back in light training – although the Spaniard isn’t ready to return to action just yet.

Alexis Sanchez showed no sign of his hamstring problem against Man Utd on Saturday so he should be okay to start again tonight.

PSG will be without defender Serge Aurier after he was denied entry to the UK after being given a two-month suspended prison sentence after allegedly assaulting a police officer.

They’ll also be without Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot due to injury but Angel Di Maria is in the squad after a fitness scare.

Preferred Line-Up

The midfield pairing of Coquelin-Elneny didn’t work at United so I certainly think Granit Xhaka needs to come in tonight while I’d like to see Ramsey partner the Swiss international. Rambo is NOT  wide player so let’s see if he can develop a partnership with Xhaka in the middle.

I also think Alex Iwobi should get a recall while I’d stick with Sanchez through the middle and use Olivier Giroud as an impact substitute once again.

Prediction

PSG outplayed us for long spells in the first game but we should be an entirely different side on home soil. Obviously they have some dangerous players like Cavani and Di Maria but if we can get back to playing our free-flowing football, then we should cause them plenty of problems ourselves. Hopefully we should see an entertaining game but I’m backing the boys to get the job done and secure top spot with a narrow 2-1 win. Arsenal 2-1 PSG

One Comment

  1. Pingback: Preview: Arsenal v PSG, team news, Xhaka to start + prediction – Arsenal Fanatik

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