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Giroud key to Arsenal's chance to top the group

match preview arsenal psg champions league

Match Preview: Arsenal vs PSG - Champions League - 23/11/2016

November is notoriously a difficult month for the Gunners and after two consecutive draws in the Premier League against beatable opposition in the form of Sp*rs and Manchester United we really could do without the visit of Paris Saint Germain. Arsenal were completely outplayed when they visited PSG in Paris in September and were it not for wayward finishing from Edison Cavani the Gunners would most likely be staring down the barrel of another 2nd placed group finish. 

There is every chance Arsenal will still finish second but with qualification already assured this is very much a 'winner takes all' match. A win would secure top spot with one game to play, as it would leave Arsenal three points clear of PSG with a better head-to-head record. The chance to finish top and be drawn against a runner-up in the next round is not an opportunity Wenger's team should spurn.

How the game starts will likely determine the outcome as contrasting to their league form where the Gunners are yet to concede a goal in the opening 15 minutes all of the goals they have conceded in Europe this season have come in the opening 15 minutes.

Arsenal will be sans Bellerin, who signed a new contract on Monday, and with Debuchy coming through 70 minutes for the u23s and not deemed fit enough to rejoin the main group it seems Carl Jenkinson will retain his place. The young Englishman looked nervy against Manchester United and made a strew of errors in defence. Jenkinson looked more composed in attack but his fierce and accurate crosses were wasted on a diminutive front line. Another game might calm him down enough to cut out the basic errors and if Giroud starts he could be an asset in troubling the PSG back line.  

PSG have their own right back headache with Serge Aurier denied a visa for this match due to a suspended conviction he received in September. PSG are fuming at the timing of this decision by the UK Home Office and you cannot blame them for it. The worry for Arsenal is the UKHO have written an extremely powerful pre-match speech for Unai Emery and whomever replaced Aurier will be grabbing their chance with both hands.

Wenger may be tempted to start with Olivier Giroud as he proved effective coming on against Manchester United and Alexis Sanchez could probably do with a rest. With Santi Cazorla ruled out with no hint at a return we may see more integration of Xhaka to add some composure and vision on the ball in the centre of midfield. PSG are going to give Arsenal a hard game and perhaps a third consecutive draw wouldn't be a bad thing for Arsenal but with the frenetic pace of the festive schedule looming on the horizon they could do with topping the group with a game to spare.

giroud celebrates equalising for arsenal against manchester united

Previous Meetings

  • PSG 1-1 Arsenal 13.09.2016
  • Arsenal 1-0 PSG 12.04.1994 (Friendly)
  • PSG 1-1 Arsenal 29.03.1994 (Friendly)

FACTFILE

  • Arsenal are unbeaten since the start of the season.
  • PSG have won only one of their eight away games against English opposition in all competitions (D3 L4).
  • The French club are yet to beat Arsenal in European competition (D2 L1).
  • PSG have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine competitive games against English clubs.
  • Arsenal have won their two home games in this season's Champions League, scoring eight goals and conceding none.
  • Since their return to the Champions League in 2012/13, PSG have won 20 of their 28 group games.
  • Arsenal have made it past the group stages for the 14th consecutive season but have been knocked out at the last 16 stage in the last six campaigns.
  • Mesut Ozil has scored four and assisted two of Arsenal's last eight Champions League goals.
  • Edinson Cavani's goal after 42 seconds against Arsenal in September is the fastest in the Champions League this season.
  • In fact, all three goals conceded by Arsenal in this season's competition have come in the opening 15 minutes.

INJURIES

Walcott and Ramsey should be fit to join the squad for this match but Arsenal will be without Santi Cazorla who has no return date and Bellerin who is still recovering from the injury that kept him out of the weekend's game.

Potential STARTING XI

Ospina, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Xhaka, Coqulein, Walcott, Özil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud.

GOONERSPHERE PREDICTION

Arsenal 2-1 PSG

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Tags: Champions League, Olivier Giroud, Match Preview, Arsenal vs PSG

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