After playing each other in the league phase, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal meet again in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg.
THE JOURNEY SO FAR
Excellent in the league phase, Arsenal swept aside Sporting Lisbon (1-5), Dinamo Zagreb (3-0) and AS Monaco (3-0) en route to amassing 19 points from eight games to finish in third place. They also defeated the Parisians 2-0, which helped them qualify directly for the Last 16. There, they dismantled a PSV Eindhoven side that had disposed of Juventus (1-7, 2-2) and then knocked out Real Madrid in the quarter-finals (3-0, 1-2). So far, only Inter Milan have managed to defeat the Gunners in the competition this season (1-0).
The Parisians' league phase was not as smooth. After losing to Atlético de Madrid (1-2), Bayern Munich (1-0) and Arsenal, the Rouge-et-Bleu turned things round with wins against Salzburg (0-3), Stuttgart (1-4) and, above all, Manchester City (4-2). In the play-offs, the Parisians comfortably won the all-French tie with Brest (0-3, 7-0) before knocking out freshly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool on penalties. Another English club, Aston Villa, was beaten to clinch a semi-final spot for a second successive year (3-1, 3-2).
THE KEY STATS
opposition strength
Mikel Arteta almost always sets his team up in a 4-3-3 with David Raya in goal. The Spain international has been excellent in Europe this season, conceding just six goals in 11 Champions League games. France international William Saliba will - in the absence of Brazil international Gabriel Magalhães - likely be paired with Poland international Jakub Kiwior in central defence.
At right-back, Takehiro Tomiyasu is injured, and Ben White is a doubt. Jurrien Timber, excellent all season, should start in the role with Arteta having options at left-back in Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney. But surely Myles Lewis-Skelly (18), who has burst on the scene this season, will start.
In midfield, Thomas Partey is suspended and Jorginho is also out, so Declan Rice (7 goals, 10 assists in all competitions this season) is likely to start in a more defensive role than usual. He will be accompanied by Mikel Merino (8 goals, 5 assists) and his captain Martin Ødegaard (5 goals, 10 assists). The Norway international is a key player in Arteta's system, like Bukayo Saka (11 goals, 14 assists), who is a real thorn in the side of any defence.
The England international will start on the right with Gabriel Martinelli (9 goals, 6 assists) poised for the role on the opposite flank. The Brazilian forward will provide support for Leandro Trossard (10 goals, 8 assists), who should be the man to play in an unfamiliar centre-forward role. The Belgium international will be called upon due to injuries to Kai Havertz (15 goals, 5 assists) and Gabriel Jesus (7 goals, 2 assists), both of whom missed the Real Madrid tie. Arsenal also have experienced England international forward Raheem Sterling (1 goal, 5 assists) and the highly promising Ethan Nwaneri (9 goals, 2 assists), who could make an appearance off the bench.
