These are the good times for the red half of North London. After two years pushing Manchester City close in the race for the domestic title, there is a genuine feeling Arsenal’s time may have come.
On a recent trip to the Etihad, Mikel Arteta’s side were seconds away from securing a stunning win over the champions despite having been reduced to 10 men. On the weekend, Arsenal went 2-0 up against Leicester before squandering their lead. It was 2-2 deep into injury time and yet Arsenal emerged 4-2 winners. It genuinely feels as though the times they are a-changin’.
This week gives the Gunners the ideal opportunity to prove their class on the European stage. Arsenal opened their European campaign with a goalless draw against Atalanta, so here is the chance to impress against a genuine continental heavyweight. The omens are good, what with Arsenal having gone unbeaten in their last nine matches overall and unbeaten in the last three games between these sides. Martin Odegaard remains sidelined, although Ben White could return for the hosts.
Paris Saint-Germain are not to be underestimated. With ominous inevitability they top Ligue 1, having won the league in six of the last seven seasons. The loss of Kylian Mbappe might have disrupted the French champions but they have seemed unaffected. They have scored 20 goals in six games, an astonishing feat given the departure of one of the world’s great attacking players. Bradley Barcola has nabbed six of those, filling Mbappe’s shoes with relative ease.
The bad news for the French giants is the injury situation. Marco Asensio and Desire Doue are both doubts, while the imperious Gianluigi Donnarumma is likely to be sidelined with a thigh injury and unable to take his place between the sticks for PSG. (Although he would at least be afforded the opportunity to spend some time with his newborn son.) Having won their first Champions League game, one suspects the visitors would be happy to leave the Emirates with a draw.
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Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain odds
Odds from BetFair updated as of 10 p.m. BST Monday.
- Arsenal win: 8/11
- Draw: 29/10
- PSG win: 4/1
Venue: Emirates Stadium — London
Time: 8 p.m. BST (3 p.m. ET), Tuesday
Form guide (all competitions)
Arsenal: W-W-D-D-W
PSG: W-D-W-W-W
Match prediction
Arsenal 3-1 PSG
These are the nights the fans dream of when their team secures Champions League qualification. Arsenal have an opportunity to show the rest of Europe just how far they’ve come under Arteta. It could be a memorable night under the North London lights, with the hosts proving too strong for their French visitors. Both teams seem likely to score, so let’s go with 3-1 to Arsenal.
(Top photo: Justin Setterfield / Getty Images)
