Arsene Wenger’s men looked on course to drop more Premier League points against Southampton on Saturday until Santi Cazorla struck from the penalty spot deep in stoppage time to earn a 2-1 win.
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The pair go head-to-head at the Parc des Princes tomorrow night as they get their Champions League campaigns up and running, and the PSG boss is relishing the prospect of trying to outwit a coach he considers “an inspiration”. Because I love where I am.
“But I think we’ll prepare in the best way possible and we know what we have to do to cause them problems”.
The French manager most notably refused Henry’s offer to coach the Under-18 side for free earlier this summer, much to the surprise of many Arsenal supporters. He is a close friend of the PSG president, Nasser al-Khelaifi, having worked on the owners’ television station, Al Jazeera turned BeIn Sport, and has previously admitted to advising them when it emerged they were interested in purchasing a football club. “I like to come to Paris”.
“You could see that especially with Mustafi because in the second half he was much more comfortable than in the first”.
Manager Arsene Wenger has said that the defender “is a little concern” and hinted that he faces a battle to be declared fit in time after suffering an eye injury in Arsenal’s league win over Southampton on Saturday. “PSG have a few of the same problems as us, but I’m not worrying for them too much”, he added. “We are motivated. We are happy to play against a great team in our stadium and in front of our public”.
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.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their 12 away games against French clubs in European competition, including winning their last seven. “I found myself in the right place at the right time”. That’s where you have a good combination of physical strength and experience.
Striker Olivier Giroud is pushing for his first start of the season in Paris.
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New signing Shkodran Mustafi should partner Koscielny, with Arsenal already without their other centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Gabriel because of injury.
