PSG Visits Arsenal in Match That Will Define Group A’s Leader
November 22, 2016 in Sports News
Arsenal will host Paris Saint Germain tomorrow in a week five Group A match of the Champions League at the Emirates Stadium in which both teams will try to claim first place.
These squads have 10 points as they have won all their matches, dropping points only when they played each other in France in their first game of the continental tournament. Back then, they ended the game in a 1-1 draw at Parc des Princes.
Arsenal lead the group solely on goal difference, after their 6-0 victory against Ludogarets at the Emirates Stadium. PSG largest win was a 3-0 win at home against FC Basel.
Arsenal’s hopes will rest largely in the performance of their solid defenders and in attack of both Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud. The German is living one of his moments with the Gunners since his arrival from Real Madrid and has scored four goals in four Champions League matches so far. Another player to watch is Chilean international Alexis Sanchez, who along Ozil have combined for 15 goals this season.
Arsenal arrive to this match far from their best form having tied three out of their last four Premier League games. Two of those ties were at home against Middlesbrough (0-0) and Tottenham (1-1) and the other was a last minute 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Paris Saint Germain on the other hand are looking like they are growing more comfortable with the strategies and methods of new coach Unay Emeri. Since a 0-0 tie against Olympique de Marseille in Paris, they have won three straight in Ligue 1 competition.
The Parisians reach this game with Edinson Cavani on fire. The Uruguayan striker has scored four goals in four Champions League matches and 11 in Ligue 1.
Cavani’s the top scorer of the French domestic league and is expected to be PSG’s main threat along with Argentinian Angel Di Maria, who despite having some physical problems has apparently recovered and should play.
The French squad will be without Ivory Coast international Stephen Aurier, a defender who had his entry visa revoked six days before the match by the British authorities. After being given a two-month suspended prison sentence in September for elbowing a police officer at a Paris nightclub, he was refused entry to the United Kingdom.
Arsenal has played 20 times against French sides in European competition and so far they have 12 victories, four draws and four defeats.