Setting the scene
With both Arsenal and PSG already qualified for the next stage of the competition, there is only one thing riding on this game, and that is top spot of Group A.
Currently leading on goal difference, a win for either side would see them top their group, regardless of what happens in the final game, which could mean ‘easier’ opposition in the first knockout round.
Arsenal will be going into this game as slight favourites, especially with home advantage, yet Arsene Wenger will want his players to improve on Saturday’s performance against Manchester United, even if they walked away from Old Trafford with a rather fortuitous point.
As for Paris Saint-Germain, a slow start to the season means Unai Emery’s men are currently third in Ligue 1, three points behind Nice, but the reigning champions are currently on a nine game unbeaten streak in all competitions, scoring 19 goals and conceding only three along the way.
Serge Aurier, what’s all that about?
Just before we started working on this preview, news broke that Paris Saint-Germain would have to do without their starting right-back, Serge Aurier, against Arsenal as the Ivory Coast defender was refused entry to the United Kingdom because of an ongoing trial.
Aurier was found guilty of ‘insulting and lightly aggressing police officers’, and, despite the player appealing the decision (meaning he’s still considered innocent in France), he will not be able to feature on Wednesday night, with the British authorities revoking his access to the country, which had originally been granted on the 21st of October, according to PSG. Of course, this isn’t the first time Aurier has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons off the pitch.
You’ll remember his ‘Periscope incident’, when the defender was caught on camera insulting various teammates, as well as his manager at the time, Laurent Blanc, earning him a one month and a bit suspension within the club.
Injuries and suspensions
On top of Serge Aurier’s suspension, Javier Pastore (knee), Layvin Kurzawa (groin) and Adrien Rabiot (hamstring) are all likely to miss facing Arsene Wenger’s men.
Two players in the PSG squad, Marco Verratti and Thiago Motta, are currently one yellow card away from a suspension, meaning that if things go their way and PSG look like winning, don’t be surprised to see one, or both, of them ‘accidentally’ commit a yellow card offence late on.
Two doubts before the game were star winger Angel Di Maria and goalkeeper Alphonse Aréola, but reports suggest both should be fit enough to feature in Wednesday night’s game at the Emirates against Arsenal.
A word from the expert
To get a feel of how the game is being viewed on the other side of the Atlantic, Sport Witness spoke to Jonathan Johnson, ESPNFC’s and beIN Sports USA’s correspondent in France for all things PSG and Ligue 1.
He said: “The Arsenal clash has come at a bad time for PSG. Not only are they missing Serge Aurier, they are also without Adrien Rabiot, Layvin Kurzawa and Javier Pastore. I feel Kurzawa will be a particularly big loss when you consider the attacking impetus he gives the side on the left and the fact that Arsenal’s right flank looks more vulnerable without Hector Bellerin.
“On top of Aurier, Rabiot, Kurzawa and Pastore, there is the almost certain absence of Angel Di Maria too and that will be another blow. Ok, he has not been in great form this season but he is still capable of producing moments of magic at any time. Without those players, Unai Emery’s starting XI will be weaker than it could have been and part of that is self-inflicted. The Spaniard did not have to play Di Maria against Nantes and Kurzawa should have been given more time to rest after he initially suffered his injury.
“Rabiot and Pastore were plain unlucky but the latter was no real surprise because of his awful recent injury record. These absences mean Emery will have to align an XI with some players who are not as sharp as they could be, even if his go-to midfield three remains untouched. Alphonse Areola will probably be back in goal after missing the last few weeks, Maxwell is Kurzawa’s backup, Thomas Meunier only plays when Aurier is unavailable and Hatem Ben Arfa has had well publicised struggles to adapt to Emery’s demanding methods.
“If he doesn’t go with Ben Arfa, then Emery could pick Jese after he scored his first PSG goal against Nantes. However, the Basque tactician appears to see Jese as an alternative to Cavani through the middle instead of his natural position of left winger.”
“The danger for Arsenal is that a sense of injustice at Aurier’s situation motivates PSG and that an in-form Edinson Cavani finally finishes the chances his teammates create for him. Both teams will make opportunities but where Arsenal really need to get at PSG is down the wings. Lucas and Ben Arfa will not work too hard defensively, while Maxwell and Meunier are not as attacking as Kurzawa and Aurier.”
Predicted line-up
Sport Witness predicted XI: Aréola, Meunier, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Maxwell, Motta, Verratti, Matuidi, Jesé, Cavani, Lucas Moura.
