Koscielny’s absence for Arsenal’s most hard game in Group A would be a huge blow for Arsene Wenger and leave him with little alternative but to hand a Champions League debut to Rob Holding in daunting circumstances.
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Paris: Arsene Wenger is looking for Arsenal to show greater consistency in the Champions League, starting with a positive result when they begin their campaign at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. I was concerned after the game that he wouldn’t be available tomorrow but he’s alright.
Mustafi said, “I don’t think too much about the past and I don’t think too much about the future”, he told Standard Sport. “My personal case is not at stake in that at all”.
The 2014 World Cup victor – who appeared as a substitute in his side’s 4-0 group stage win over Portugal, a 2-2 draw with Ghana and the second round 2-1 victory over Algeria in extra time in Porto Alegre – showed his quality during that last-gasp triumph against the Saints. “It’s not very common – there was Sir Alex Ferguson – but we’d all like to be in a similar situation to Arsene Wenger”. And will the Gunners get the right result to set us on the road to finally winning a group?
“Better than all my speeches is the way we play, and the dynamic we have, and the intensity we put into the games”.
Arsenal boss ArseneWenger insists the added maturity within his squad gives him increasing confidence that the Gunners can break free from the shackles of knockout stage obscurity and mount a sustained Champions League challenge this season. “Playing well is better than talking”.
“I’m very busy in my work, but I’m absolutely convinced we are going to improve”.
“Now, today, I have a team with more experienced players. The squad is between 24 and 30, basically, which is where you have a good combination of physical strengths and experience”.
Arsenal are beginning to find their groove this season after a harrowing start for their fans.
Under Emery, PSG have had a hard start to the season and were involved in late drama in their weekend game as St Etienne scored in the final minute on Friday to force a 1-1 draw. I was used to playing with a much younger squad because when we built the stadium we did not have the resources. It’s a city I love, it’s my country, a country I love.
“Paris Saint-Germain is as well a good test for us because it’s the team who are always in France at the moment above everybody else”.
“We know he’s very tricky, has a very good left foot and he’ll be a hard player to defend [against]”, said the Spain worldwide.
Santi Cazorla praised Shkodran Mustafi for his display after Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Southampton at The Emirates on Saturday.
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“He’s alright, he had a big knock but recovered quite well”.
