Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal. UEFA Champions League Group A.
Parc des PrincesAttendance46,440.
Tuesday 13 September 2016 21:23, UK
Arsenal were handed a fitness boost as Laurent Koscielny trained ahead of their Champions League opener with Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.
The centre-back picked up an eye injury during Arsenal's 2-1 against Southampton, in which he scored a scissor-kick, but he was training at London Colney on Monday.
Arsene Wenger, who was able to rest some of his big name players in Saturday's victory, is expected to field a strong line-up in the French capital on Tuesday night.
New signing Shkodran Mustafi could partner Koscielny, with Arsenal missing their other centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Gabriel through injury.
Team news
Wenger has confirmed Koscielny has recovered well and is available, but Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) trained away from the main squad on Monday and will not travel to Paris.
"He [Koscielny] is alright," Wenger said at his pre-match press conference. "I was worried after the game at Southampton because he took a big knock to his face, but he is OK."
Olivier Giroud is pushing for his first start of the season, having made two substitute appearances for the Gunners this campaign.
Opta stats
Paris Saint-Germain last met Arsenal in the 1993/94 Cup Winners Cup semi-finals, when the Gunners won 2-1 on aggregate.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their 12 away games against French clubs in European competition, including winning their last seven.
This is the Ligue 1 side's fifth consecutive Champions League campaign and ninth in total. Only Lyon have more appearances in the competition among French clubs, with a total of 14.
Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League for the 19th consecutive season, with only Real Madrid boasting a longer current streak of 20.
Arsenal have made it past the group stages in the last 13 seasons but have been knocked out at the last 16 stage in the last six campaigns. Their solitary Champions League final ended in defeat against Barcelona in 2006.
Petr Cech has kept 47 clean sheets in 111 Champions League games. Only Iker Casillas (51) and Edwin van der Sar (50) have kept more among goalkeepers.
Alexis Sanchez has scored three and assisted five of Arsenal's last 13 Champions League goals.
Wenger has taken charge of 176 games in the Champions League, more than any other current manager. Only Alex Ferguson boasts more games, with 190.
Charlie predicts
Wenger took a risk in terms of changing his team again at the weekend, which I didn't think was necessary, and he got away with it.
Yes, they were fortunate against Southampton but they made the most of their luck and I thought one other positive was the way Mustafi grew into the game.
Sanchez and Giroud should come back in to give the side a more familiar feel but, for me, Granit Xhaka has to play on Tuesday. You pay £30m because he's better than Francis Coquelin, not to put him on the bench.
PSG are not as good as they used to be when Zlatan Ibrahimovic was there. They drew their last game and lost to Monaco before that, so I'm confident Arsenal will score at least once and I fancy Theo Walcott to get on the scoresheet.
Charlie predicts: 1-1 and Walcott to score first (60/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting odds
PSG are Sky Bet's 17/20 favourites for the victory on Tuesday night, with Arsenal up against odds of 3/1 to open their campaign with a win and 11/4 to secure a draw.
The French champions also head the Group A outright betting at 4/7 followed by their visitors at 6/4, while they are also shorter odds to win the competition at 12/1 to 28/1 on Wenger's men.
Edinson Cavani is the first goalscorer favourite at 4/1 while Giroud is considered the Gunners' main threat at 7/1 to net first.
