Arsenal are set to host Paris Saint-Germain in the last four of the Champions League.
The Gunners entertain PSG at the Emirates on Tuesday, before travelling to the French capital for the second leg at the Parc des Princes the following week.
While Arsenal suffered a disappointing draw against Crystal Palace on Wednesday, Mikel Arteta was afforded the luxury of a free weekend to prepare for the European showdown.
Meanwhile, PSG arguably endured a more frustrating final game prior to their trip to North London, losing their unbeaten record in Ligue 1 courtesy of a 3-1 home defeat to Nice.
French media are concerned about PSG heading into Arsenal Champions League match
PSG have already secured the Ligue 1 title, while Arsenal are out of the Premier League title race, meaning both sides are fully focused on their Champions League exploits.
Inevitably, this has led to a drop off in domestic form for both teams, with Arsenal drawing three of their last four league games.
Meanwhile, PSG were held by Nantes on Tuesday, before being comfortably beaten by Nice on Friday night.
There had been talk about the Parisians achieving an invincible season in the French top flight, but the Nice defeat has now destroyed these dreams.
France’s national media have expressed their concern about PSG ahead of the Champions League clash, following their poor display at the Parc des Princes on Friday.
FootMercato described the loss as a ‘disappointment that could worry fans’.
“What if PSG were starting to have doubts?” the outlet wrote in their match report.
“This Friday evening, a few days before the Champions League clash against Arsenal, PSG hosted Nice with the intention of reassuring themselves and maintaining their unbeaten record. But that wasn’t the case.
“But beyond the result, it’s in the content that PSG can be worried about, especially in the second half. While Paris still dominated and created numerous chances, they showed a certain nervousness in the final move.
“Usually effective up front, at least this season, Ousmane Dembélé missed several opportunities. For his part, Désiré Doué seemed well below his current form. Paris’s second half against Nice also showed that this squad was experiencing a dip in form physically.
“So, the match against Arsenal is obviously on their minds, but several Parisians seemed to be below par.”
Did PSG rest players against Nice?
While Arsenal were able to sit Bukayo Saka down for a large chunk of the Crystal Palace game, and Mikel Merino missed out altogether, PSG didn’t do this against Nice.
Luis Enrique picked what is arguably his best team, including star players Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Joao Neves.
Dembele was hooked on 68 minutes, while Neves and Desire Doue were both taken off on the hour mark.
Kvaratskhelia played the full 90 minutes, however, as did Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha.
PSG will have to travel to N5 on Monday, and this, combined with the exertions against Nice, should give Arsenal a marginal upper hand in the clash.
The Gunners should come out the blocks quickly and look to take advantage of a potentially fatigued PSG team.
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