Four consecutive Ligue 1 titles is a solid return for the vast investment made in Paris Saint-Germain during this decade, but the transition from being a dominant team within their league to competing and challenging in European competition has been a hard gap to traverse.
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“Because I love where I am”, said Wenger when asked why he has turned the Parisians down. Similar problems to the ones we face, but we’ll see. I personally think that they can beat PSG, if they go there and set up with an attacking line-up as they will be coming up against a weakened defence.
Unai Emery’s side were beaten 3-1 by Monaco before being held 1-1 by Saint-Etienne last Friday, prompting questions over their potential to challenge for the Champions League this season.
Arsene Wenger has admitted that Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez were lacking some match fitness after the pair made their Arsenal debuts in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Southampton. Arsene Wenger has slowly re-introduced his star players back into the starting eleven and they are likely to select a full strength team in Paris on Tuesday. He’s an important player for them.
“Let’s play the way we want to play and we will win. We are expecting tough opposition when we get there”.
PSG were boosted by the return of centre back Thiago Silva who made his first appearance of the season after a hip injury.
But Wenger has confirmed he will be available and lauded him as one of the best defenders in the game.
Arsenal will face the French champions at Parc des Princes tomorrow in their first group game of the European campaign. Layvin Kurzawa has been one of the main beneficiaries, replacing Maxwell at left-back, but he admitted he had been taken aback by what Emery had demanded from him.
“He’s always had talent, and that hasn’t always been recognised in France because he left Lorient, not a big club”.
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“We have scored goals since the start of the season, but we bought one more striker because we thought we needed one more. I hope he proves that tomorrow”.
