Arsenal vs PSG LIVE SCORE: Champions League semi-final on SOON as Mikel Merino starts in midfield – stream FREE, updates

Need more from Odegaard

Gallas also challenged Martin Odegaard to reach the level that Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka managed over two legs in the last round against Real Madrid.

The Frenchman says he want’s to see the Dane “come to the party.”

“It’s not just [Declan Rice] on Tuesday – it has to be other players,” Gallas told Prime Casino.

“Declan Rice produced a world-class performance against Real Madrid, and if he can’t repeat it, another player has to take the responsibility and step up with a match-winning performance.

“Odegaard, can he do this? At the moment, he looks like he can’t go to that level at the moment.

“The level Declan Rice reached, and Saka – he had a great performance, in the first game, the second game against Madrid. I want to see Odegaard come to the party.

“He’s been quiet this season, but we know that he has the potential to be a match-winner, a world-class player.

“On Tuesday, it will be very interesting to see what is going to happen between Saka and Nuno Mendes, because he can play top-level stuff too. It’s going to be a good challenge for Saka.”

‘They’re a bit flaky’

Ex-Arsenal captain William Gallas believes his former team has a fantastic chance to have a “great night.”

Gallas told Prime Casino: “They’ve got rid of the superstars, but they still have some brilliant players.

“But there’s doubts. There’s still a little doubt.

“They’re a bit flaky, like when Aston Villa started banging in the goals against them in the last round.

“I thought to myself, we’ve seen this before. I thought PSG were different.

“So that’s why it will be a little bit different with Arsenal, because Arsenal are stronger than Aston Villa.

“If Arsenal score first, it could be a great night for the Gunners.”

Paris or London

PSG fans made Trafalgar Square their own today as thousands descended upon the capital for raucous celebrations ahead of tonight’s game.

Read all about it and see the pics and video here:

Wenger has his say

Arsenal hero Arsene Wenger has given his thoughts on how he thinks this mammoth clash will go.

Wenger said: “I believe that Arsenal has the potential to do it.

“But of course once you go to the semi-final, PSG is a very good team as well. Everybody is excited about it and let’s see and hope.

“Overall I believe Arsenal is very solid defensively and over two legs that has a big influence.”

A legend speaks

The eyes of the football world will be watching this match and one of the best to ever do it sent a special message to his former club…

‘We’re a better team now’

These two teams have already met this season, of course.

That game – during the group phase of the Champions League, saw Arsenal come away with a 2-0 victory.

Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka scored two goals in a five-minute spell to give the Gunners a great win.

But Enrique says there are “big differences” in his team from that game, with the defeat helping them to become a better side.

He said: “We played on October 1, seven or eight months ago.

“There are big differences. I rewatched that game and looked at how far we’ve come.

“We’re a better team now and we’ve shown it throughout the competition.

“The tough group stage hurt us at first, but over time, it helped us improve.”

PSG, like Arsenal, have never won Europe’s top competition and have also reached the final just once.

That came in 2020 when now-England manager Thomas Tuchel was in charge – the French giants lost 1-0 to Bayern.

Enrique added: “When we say we want to make history, we’re talking about doing something that nobody has done before us.

“The team has a lot of confidence, and sometimes we’re less brilliant, but that’s part of life.

“PSG have never won the Champions League? Neither have Arsenal.

“We mustn’t let that stop us from performing at the highest level, we have to keep that in mind but concentrate on what we have to do.”

Enrique hits out

PSG boss Luis Enrique hit back at the French media in his press conference this week after they were criticial of his team’s recent form.

He said: “No one is talking about the goals or the games we’ve won, let’s talk about our defeats, that’s fine.

“You can say everything you want, you can send everything my way. Our mindset is wonderful.

“The most unhappy or sad member of the squad is me so you can just imagine what the others are doing.

“Let me just specify. Maybe I am getting things wrong but when I’m talking about the negative climate, I’m not talking about the fans or the staff within the club.

“But yeah, the questions coming from the media and even the questions the journalists ask, I think it is quite negative but maybe that’s just me.”

No place like home

The Gunners will be hoping to continue their stunning run at the Emirates in Uefa competitions.

Arsenal are undefeated in their last 17 matches at home in Europe, winning 12 times and drawing on five occasions.

The North Londoners have also won their last four Uefa competition matches against French teams without conceding a goal.

Mik drop

Mikel Merino could be required to drop into midfield for tonight’s huge semi-final first leg.

The Spaniard has been utilised as a striker in recent months with season-ending injuries to the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Merino’s striker-like finish against Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie proved how comfortable he is as the focal point of Arsenal’s attack.

But tonight, due to Thomas Partey’s suspension and an injury to Jorginho, the 28-year-old may be put back into midfield with Leandro Trossard up top.

Martinelli to play major part vs PSG

ASK Paris Saint-Germain stars which Arsenal player they most fear and they are unlikely to come up with the name Martinelli.

After knocking out 15-time winners Real Madrid, Mikel Arteta‘s men host PSG in a blockbuster semi-final first leg tonight.

And if Martinelli gets on the scoresheet, history suggests the Gunners will have one foot in the final next month in Munich.

The Brazilian winger has hardly been in scintillating form this season, with just nine goals — and only two in his last 15 games heading into a mammoth Champions League semi-final first-leg tie against PSG.

But beneath that patchy form lies a remarkable record.

In the club’s 139-year history, Martinelli has the record for most games scored in without being on the losing side.

How Arsenal got to the semi-finals

The Gunners progressed to the last-16 after performing superbly well in the league phase, winning six of their eight matches and finishing third.

Here’s how Arsenal have got on in the knockouts so far.

• Last 16: 9-3 aggregate win over PSV.
• Quarter-finals: 5-1 aggregate victory over Real Madrid

Gunners’ good omen

Arsenal have a positive omen going into this evening’s huge match against Paris Saint-Germain.

The Gunners host PSG in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals at the Emirates Stadium.

They previously hosted the Ligue 1 champions in the group stage six months ago.

Goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka saw Arsenal win 2-0 at home.

Mikel Arteta will now be hoping for a similar result tonight.

And the Spaniard has received what many superstitious fans may consider a good omen in the build-up.

Slavko Vincic – the man who officiated the last match between Arsenal and PSG back in October – will be the referee tonight.