After their recent failures, Martin Odegaard has urged Arsenal to “stick together” in their decisive Champions League semifinal clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
The Gunners travel to Parc des Princes with the difficult task of defeating the French champions for the second time in their history.
After Ousmane Dembele’s winner in north London, Mickel Arteta’s side trailed 1-0 from the opening match.
After defeating Manchester City in the group stage, PSG has already defeated Premier League leaders Liverpool in the last 16 and Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.
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After a disappointing first leg that had the potential to bring home a heavier defeat, Arsenal, who have never won the Champions League, are on the verge of taking on PSG’s current English title.
With a 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, they couldn’t have done much worse. They had already made preparations for the second leg of the competition.
After two agonizing losses, Arteta claimed Arsenal was full of “rage and anger.”
However, Gunners captain Odegaard said they can use those feelings to fuel a rousing triumph over PSG as long as no fault is made with the poorly timed slump.
We’re disappointed now, but we must move on, be courageous, persevere, and get ready for a big game, Odegaard said.
It is a massive game, it says. That is advantageous. You can use all those emotions into Wednesday when you are upset and angry right now.
We are aware of our goals. We must work together, create energy, and be prepared. ”
Arteta risked the fitness of his key players by making just two changes against Bournemouth, which raised eyebrows.
Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino were the only ones who did not face the Cherries, Arteta revealing that the Dutch defender will have to pass a fitness test before his place in the PSG game is decided.
a “Massive performance”
Second-placed Arsenal still needs to win two of its previous three league games to advance to the Champions League next season.
Arsenal’s current tournament schedule is what is currently attracting its attention, though.
After finishing last year’s season as the Premier League’s runners-up to Manchester City, Arteta and his players are heavily burdened by Arsenal’s failure to capture its first title since 2004.
Arsenal couldn’t keep up with champion Liverpool because of injuries and inconsistent form from their forwards.
Arteta is desperate to turn Arsenal’s undeniable quality into silverware, despite not having won any awards since winning the 2020 FA Cup.
Real Madrid and Arsenal cruised to a 5-1 aggregate victory to defeat them in the Champions League quarter-final this year.
However, disappointment is a constant in the North Londoners’ European history.
Alan Smith scored the winner in the 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup final, Arsenal winning the team’s final European trophy.
Despite winning numerous awards during Arsene Wenger’s reign, Galatasaray lost to the Frenchman in the 2000 UEFA Cup and Barcelona lost to Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League.
In Unai Emery’s brief tenure as manager, Arsenal also lost to Chelsea in the 2019 Europa League final.
Arsenal hope that George Graham’s men’s 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup success will be a positive sign for Wednesday’s game.
31 years ago, the Gunners defeated a PSG side led by George Weah and David Ginola in the semi-final, but they won 2-1 on aggregate.
One of the greatest outcomes in the history of the club will be achieved if Arsenal can overcome the current PSG generation’s deficit.
What was at stake was unmistakably clear in Arteta’s rallying cry.
He claimed that the current state of rage, anger, frustration, and stomach aches are all things.
So make sure we use that on Wednesday to perform well in Paris, triumph in the game, and advance to the final. ”
