Arsenal Vs PSG: Combined Starting XI
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 14: Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on August 14, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Arsenal open their Champions League campaign away at Paris Saint-Germain. Here is a combined starting XI of the two clubs.
Arsenal will travel to Paris on Tuesday night to take on the giants of group A to open their Champions League campaign. Amid the build-up with the Paris Saint-Germain clash, there has been a building sense of anticipation that the Gunners may well sneak a win due to a developing squad and an underperforming PSG side struggling from the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer.
So, here is a combined starting XI of the two clubs.
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Petr Cech of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Southampton at Emirates Stadium on September 10, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
Goalkeeper
Was there every any debate? Petr Cech, one of the world’s greatest goalkeepers of the past decade or Kevin Trapp? No disrespect to Trapp, but he is not in the same league as Arsenal’s number one.
Cech, signed two summers ago, and after a poor debut in which two mistakes cost the Gunners a loss to West Ham United, doubts were creeping in about his advanced age and lack of comfort no longer playing behind a defence that boasted the talent and experience of the Chelsea back line.
However, since then, his experience has exuded confidence, so much so that Arsenal’s defensive displays have improved as a result. Cech’s ability transcends his physicals skills. His leadership, his winning mentality and calmness are key attributes that an often naive and innocent Arsenal side are depserately lacking. Cech is an absolute shoe-in.
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 20: Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal at The King Power Stadium on August 20, 2016 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Defence
The back four, bar two world class players, is the weakness of both these sides. With David Luiz departing in the summer returning to Chelsea in a truly sensational deadline day move, the two centre halves pick themselves. While Shkodran Mustafi may have some argument, Laurent Koscielny and Thiago Silva have been two of the very best defenders in the world. No other centre-half is nearly as good within these two squads.
While those two slot in as the central defensive pair, the two full-backs both hail from North London. In a wonderful year, both Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal established themselves as one of the Premier League’s best duos. Bellerin especially is a rising star at right back, with rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona over the summer.
Meanwhile, across the channel PSG have a host of talented, if not yet established full backs. From Serge Aurier to Layvin Kurzawa to Thomas Meunier, the French champions lack a full back as accomplished of either of the Arsenal pair, and consequently, Bellerin and Monreal take the spots.
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 09: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This image was converted to black and white) Marco Verratti of Paris Saint-Germain argues with a referee during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and AS Saint Etienne at Parc des Princes on September 9, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)
Midfield
The most crowded position group of the two squads is in central midfield. After adding Granit Xhaka to the mix, Arsenal boast a mulititude of top quality midfielders, including the likes of Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey. However, while all four are quality players, they do not compare the strength of the PSG starting duo.
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In the holding roles, the French champions deploy Blaise Matuidi, Thiago Motta and Marco Verratti. While Motta is a good player, it is the bondless energy of Matuidi and the technical prowess of Verratti that gives this midfield its zip. They are better than any of the central midfield options that Arsenal can offer up and consequently enter this combined XI.
The third member, however, is the best player regardless of position or club. Mesut Ozil is a truly outstanding player, blessed with unheralded ability. He is the first name on the team sheet and starts in the attacking midfield role.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 21: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal celebrates as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium on April 21, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
Attack
The two wide men is a relatively easy position to decipher. The best winger of both squads by some distance is the wondrous Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean has elevated himself into an elite category since moving to North London, scoring and creating regularly, causing a whole host of problems for opposing defenders.
The other wide berth goes to Angel Di Maria. The Argentinian struggled in England with Manchester United but since moving to PSG, is beginning to rebuild his career as a creative winger. Heralded while at Real Madrid, Di Maria possesses an ability to simply glide past opponents with ease, comitting defenders to tackles they don’t want to make and exploiting space, especially late in the game on the break.
The central striker role goes to PSG forward Edinson Cavani. With Olivier Giroud unable to nail down a starting spot since returning for the season, Lucas Perez only starting one game in an unconvincing performance and even Sanchez himself playing as a centre-forward at times, it would be almost irresponsible to not place the Uruguayan in the combined XI.