Arsenal, who have a good record on recent visits to France, have recovered from taking a single point from their opening two Premier League games, winning the next two to climb up to sixth place on the table. PHOTO: AFP
A regular visitor to the French capital, the Strasbourg-born Wenger has often been linked in the past with an executive role at PSG when he finally leaves Arsenal, the club he joined in 1996.
Since then the London side have qualified for the Champions League in every full season of his management. For the last 16 years in succession they have reached the second stage of the competition, only to suffer the frustration of defeat in the first knockout round for six seasons in a row.
Along with PSG, they must be regarded as favourites to qualify again from a group also including Basel and Bulgarian side Ludogorets.
Messi in doubt for Champions League opener against Celtic
Arsenal, who have a good record on recent visits to France, have recovered from taking a single point from their opening two Premier League games, winning the next two to reach sixth place in the table.
They needed a disputed late penalty, however, to beat Southampton 2-1 on Saturday. PSG were also involved in late drama in their weekend game, although it went against them.
Visitors St Etienne scored in the final minute on Friday to force a 1-1 draw. That left the champions three points behind Monaco, who had beaten them 3-1 in the previous league fixture. New coach Unai Emery, who arrived from Sevilla to replace Laurent Blanc in the close-season, lost important players to the Premier League in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and defender David Luiz but was pleased to keep influential midfielder Blaise Matuidi.
One of those recruited will be familiar to Arsenal. Hatem Ben Arfa spent four years in England with Newcastle United and Hull City. “It’s a squad that has won a lot and that has developed while winning,” Emery told Uefa’s official website.
“I’ve arrived at a club that want to keep on winning and to kick on to the next level. That’s the challenge and it’s a difficult one. The demands are very high.”
City to lose Hart despite qualifying for Champions League
Man City not ready for Europe’s best: Guardiola
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are not yet ready to compete with Europe’s elite but his side will be confident of opening their Champions League campaign with victory over Borussia Moenchengladbach.
The Spaniard could hardly have started his City reign more impressively with four consecutive Premier League wins and a crushing Champions League playoff defeat of Steaua Bucharest.
But Guardiola, twice a Champions League winner as coach of Barcelona, has quickly moved to dampen expectations. “Until now, in the Premier League it has been okay — but to compete against the best clubs in Europe, in this moment with the way we are playing, we are not able to,” said Guardiola.
The comment was all the more surprising as it came after Saturday’s impressive 2-1 victory at Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United.
City leave out Toure for Steaua trip
Barca to make amends after Alaves shock
Barcelona are eyeing their Champions League opener against Celtic as a chance to make amends for their shock 2-1 defeat at home to La Liga newcomers Alaves on Saturday.
With many of his players in action with their international sides in midweek, coach Luis Enrique rotated his squad, resting regulars Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergi Roberto, Jordi Alba and talisman Lionel Messi.
The decision backfired and Alaves, playing in the top flight for the first time in a decade, made the most of their few chances, frustrating the champions even after Suarez, Messi and Iniesta came on.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2016.
Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ