ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – AUGUST 03: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal during the Arsenal 1st team photocall at London Colney on August 3, 2016 in St Albans, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal open their Champions League campaign away against French champions Paris Saint-Germain. Here are five key players to watch throughout the game.
Arsenal travel to Paris in the hope of recording a surprise victory as they open their Champions League campaign. With injury doubts over Laurent Koscielny, new signings bedding in and Paris Saint-Germain without star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic after his departure in the summer, the game is shrouded in uncertainty and excitement.
Here are five key players to watch throughout the 90 minutes.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal receives treatment from the Arsenal medical team during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Southampton at Emirates Stadium on September 10, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
5. Laurent Koscielny
The importance of Arsenal centre-half Laurent Koscielny has perhaps only been realised by many in the past few weeks. With injuries sweeping through many of Arsene Wenger’s defensive options, Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding were thrust into the limelight on the opening weekend of the season with drastic consequences.
The Gunners conceded four goals to Liverpool and looked devoid of any defensive shape whatsoever. Koscielny duly returned the next week after overcoming fatigue from his international exertions at the European championships and immediately Arsenal’s defensive performance improved dramatically. Alongside Holding, Leicester were shut out while Watford were limited to only one goal and a few chances.
Now playing with Shkodran Mustafi, the man who Wenger has turned to in the midst of the inevitable injury crisis, Koscielny is the senior defender in the squad. The leader, the organiser and the key communicator in the back four, he is an essential cog within the Arsenal side. Late in the game on Saturday, the 31-year-old briefly left the pitch with a head injury, raising concerns regarding his fitness for Tuesday’s match with PSG.
Wenger has since dispelled such doubts but Koscielny may well be playing short of full fitness. He is more than capable of doing so, but up against a dangerous PSG attack spearheaded by Edinson Cavani, any mistake will be punished. Koscielny will have to be on top form once again.
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 09: Marco Verratti of Paris Saint-Germain kicks the ball during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and AS Saint Etienne at Parc des Princes on September 9, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
4. Marco Verratti
The metronome midfielder is a position of increasing importance. Since the dominance of Pep Guardiola’s tika-taka style with Barcelona and the consequent success with the Spanish national side due to the overlap of players, winning the battle of possession has become an essential aspect of many team’s game plans.
Arsene Wenger also employs such a tactic, as have PSG, and to win control of the game through dominating the ball, a team must possess a central midfielder of great technical ability and mental awareness. For the great Barcelona side, that man was Xavi. For Arsenal, both Cesc Fabregas and Santi Cazorla have played that role in recent years. For PSG, that man is Marco Verratti.
The diminutive Italian is outstanding with the ball at his feet. Francis Coquelin, in the build-up to this game, called him a “little magician” and disrupting his rhythm as he attempts to orchestrate proceedings from central midfield will be crucial for Arsenal.
If given time and space, Verratti has the creativity, the vision and also the ability to exploit a lacklustre defence. He is a wonderfully gifted player and it will be a great challenge for the Arsenal midfield to overcome. If they are unable to do so, it could be a long game of chasing shadows.
WATFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Watford and Arsenal at Vicarage Road on August 27, 2016 in Watford, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
3. Granit Xhaka
Arsene Wenger, after years of either reluctance, inability or unwillingness, finally invested in the transfer market this summer. With deals for Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez completed late in the window, much of the recent media attention has focused on such signings. However, the marquee name of the summer is the deal that was completed before the window even opened.
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Granit Xhaka was added in a £35 million deal from Borussia Monchengladbach in the hope that he would add some much-needed steel to an Arsenal midfield that has been lacking a physical presence of any sort since the departure of Gilberto Silva and Patrick Viera.
In limited game time thus far, Xhaka has displayed a willingness to tackle (and foul), a positional intelligence in defensive areas and when in possession, a calmness that exudes a confidence in his own ability. He has, however, not faced the level of competition that PSG pose. With the energy of Blaise Matuidi and the technical ability of Verratti, PSG’s central midfield, like Arsenal, is a strength of their squad.
Like with every game between two European giants, the midfield area will likely win and lose the game, and Xhaka’s battle with a more than competent PSG midfield will be a fascinating watch.
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 09: Edinson Cavani of Paris Saint-Germain reacts during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and AS Saint Etienne at Parc des Princes on September 9, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
2. Edinson Cavani
Much of the hope surrounding this match from an Arsenal perspective relies on the absence of one player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The club’s leading goal scorer left Paris this summer with his contract expiring, choosing to test himself in the Premier League with Manchester United. As such, the centrepiece of this PSG side is no more and doubts are prevalent over whether they can overcome his absence.
Much of their success or failure in this department will come down to Edinson Cavani, Zlatan’s former striker partner. The Uruguayan has long been considered one of Europe’s elite centre-forwards, but in recent seasons, has had to play second fiddle to the wonders, and arrogance, of Ibrahimovic. With the Big Swede no longer in the picture, however, the goal scoring responsibility falls on the shoulders of Cavani.
Unfortunately for the French champions, while Cavani is universally praised for his all-round ability, his willingness to chase lost causes, his link up play and his aerial threat, he is not the prolific goal grabber that Zlatan is. Consequently, the age old question of where the goals are going to come from is a fair one to level at this side. If Arsenal can keep Cavani quiet, a task that is made significantly easier with no Ibrahimovic to keep tabs on, then it is looking difficult for PSG to simply score enough goals.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Southampton at Emirates Stadium on September 10, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
1. Alexis Sanchez
Arsene Wenger for many years has been unwavering in his stubborn beliefs in his philosophy. Le Prof has demanded that his side play with penash and precision, dominating the football, controlling the game through long spells of possession and creating chances through slower but more measured play.
Against lesser sides, Arsenal have the superior ability to use such tactics and win. That is not true against a team like PSG.
More recently, though, Wenger has been willing to adapt his formerly stubborn philosophies, employing a counter-attacking style, sitting deeper in defence and attacking with pace and power on the break. He has enjoyed success with it also, but for it to be a valid tactic on Tuesday night, speed in wide and attacking areas is vital. After his absence on Saturday due to returning late from international duty, Alexis Sanchez may well be asked to perform that role.
As Arsenal fans are well aware, Sanchez is a truly terrific player. Direct, deliberate and dynamic, the Chilean can cause problems when space is limited against deep-lying back four. If Wenger employs a counter attacking style once more, he may well utilise his star winger either from the left wing or a central striking role.
Either position could well give him ample space and if Arsenal are to nick a goal in a tough away fixture, Sanchez will likely be the source.
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