EXCLUSIVE
Arsenal can look to history for Champions League hope against PSG – but all depends on one player
There's a reason why a certain Arsenal chant was constantly sung across the terraces in recent decades.
In the 90s, '1-0 to the Arsenal' was bellowed in reference to the team's knack for grinding out victories by playing a brand of football that wasn't exactly easy on the eye.
4
4
The Gunners underwent wholesale tactical changes when Arsene Wenger was appointed in 1996 as they enjoyed a more free-flowing style of play, although the chant remained intact.
Incumbent boss Mikel Arteta seems to have found a happy medium between attacking and defending, with Arsenal boasting the meanest defence and the fourth-most goals in the Premier League this season.
But former Arsenal midfielder Adrian Clarke feels Arteta may have to call on the stingy performances of a bygone era for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
Arteta's side travel to the French capital needing a victory on the night after the Parisians took a 1-0 aggregate lead at the Emirates Stadium amid questionable league form which saw the Gunners suffer a surprise home defeat to Bournemouth last weekend.
Read more football news
Yet Clarke does not believe Arteta's side need to go gung-ho in search of a goal in the second leg as it will play right into PSG's hands.
Instead, Clarke felt a battle of attrition may suit the Gunners more.
"It's going to need a savvy performance from Arsenal," Clarke said on talkSPORT Breakfast.
"I think Arsenal might need to actually play it quite safe. Historically, Arsenal have been able to do this kind of thing.
Most read in Champions League
"But you know you need that two-goal victory.
"You just stay in the game at the start, quieten everyone down and then bang, you've got to take your chances when they come.
4
"If this is an open game, PSG won't run riot but will score goals, and that's the issue."
Clarke also pointed to the midfield battle as one which could be decisive in the second leg.
A midfield reshuffle looms for Arteta now that Thomas Partey is back from suspension.
The Ghanaian played a pivotal role in the Gunners' quarter-final domination of Real Madrid and his absence was keenly felt in the first leg.
But, perhaps most crucially, Partey's inclusion allows Declan Rice to revert to a box-to-box role rather than act as the anchor in a midfield three, a position Clarke believed he looks miles better in.
With Partey alongside Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield, it may mean an unconventional return up top for Mikel Merino as Leandro Trossard would drop to the bench.
4
Merino, a central midfielder by trade, was used as a makeshift striker in both legs against Real Madrid to great effect and even bagged a goal at the Emirates.
Clarke felt Merino will present unwelcome problems for PSG's defenders, but remained adamant the key to victory lies with Rice.
"We're talking about Arsenal being off the boil, if there's one guy who's not off the boil, it's Declan Rice," Clarke said.
"He's at boiling point, he's playing at a different level to anyone else in the side at the moment. And actually, he looks miles better as the box-to-box guy. Declan Rice has to play as that box-to-box guy.
"Partey will come back in. That was a silly suspension that he picked up against Madrid. For me, that was costly because the midfield against PSG wasn't quite right at any stage. It took them a while to fix some structural issues there.
"I think Merino goes up top, Partey comes back in and Trossard drops to the bench.
Mikel Arteta told to 'change his personality' for real success by Arsenal legend Jens Lehmann
"Arsenal might go a bit more direct into Merino because I don't think PSG's centre-backs love it in the air, I don't think that's their strong suit. So I think Arsenal will look to use Merino as much as possible.
"But for me, the key to victory is absolutely Declan Rice. If he's on it, Arsenal have got a chance."
PSG vs Arsenal: talkSPORT BET Odds
To win the match:
- PSG -
- Draw -
- Arsenal -
To qualify:
- PSG -
- Arsenal -
Read More on talkSPORT
*odds subject to change 18+ gambleaware.org
Visit for all the latest betting odds and bet boosts
Topics