“Beating Arsenal is a minor thing if that guy is stopped”: PSG coach Luis Enrique names the only Arsenal player they need to stop ahead of Champions League semi-final clash
Much like Mikel Arteta did, Luis Enrique was keen to rotate his Paris Saint-Germain team at the weekend.
Although PSG and their head coach have more depth and more leeway, it did not stop both clubs from winning with key players being rested.
Arsenal were definitely the stronger of the two. Arteta has little room to change that due to injuries across his squad. For that reason, Jakub Kiwior and William Saliba (the only fit senior centre-backs) both started, as did David Raya, Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli, Mikel Merino, and Bukayo Saka.
Had Saka been more seriously injured by Leif Davis in a collision which saw the Ipswich Town man sent off after half an hour then questions would have been asked as to why Arteta felt it necessary to go with a team like this. On Wednesday against Crystal Palace, it is unlikely he will be as risk-taking.
The lack of obvious alternatives across most of the pitch did not help. Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling could have started but then it is down to academy players or those even further away than the fringes.
As for PSG, they are already confirmed Ligue 1 champions and have a talent advantage over the rest of the division unlike anything Arsenal can boast. That allows them more freedom to rest ahead of next week’s semi-final meeting at the Emirates Stadium.
They warmed up here with a 2-1 win over strugglers Le Havre. For that reason, Enrique named an almost unrecognisable team. Gianluigi Donnarumma was put on the bench with regular starters Marquinhos and Nuno Mendes also substitutes. The latter came on but Marquinhos did not.
Achraf Hakimi did play but was taken off in the second half. Instead, PSG gave minutes to Lucas Hernandez and Lucas Beraldo. Willian Pacho missed the game through illness.
He has been a staple in the PSG team for Enrique and will be a worry ahead of next week’s match in north London. It is one to keep an eye on for Arsenal with PSG due to play twice before then.
On Tuesday, Nantes host PSG. They will then travel to Nice on Friday night. It is a short turnaround but one that allows extra time to prepare for Arsenal on the other side.
Arteta’s men welcome Crystal Palace on Wednesday in a match that has been moved due to FA Cup semi-final commitments for Oliver Glasner and his team. That gives Arsenal even more breathing room ahead of the big first leg match.
PSG have used their own fixture list to rotate. Lee Kang-In and Desire Doue are two of the closer players usually on the bench who got a chance to start here. Teenage duo Ibrahim Mbaye (17) and Senny Mayulu (18) also played.
Against Le Havre it was Bradley Barcola who got the nod on the left before coming off for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Vitinha and Joao Neves both came on whilst Fabian Ruiz did not. He was one of the few players at risk of being suspended for the semi-final first leg.
Arsenal will be without Thomas Partey after his late yellow card against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu. Rice and Timber were also one booking away from a ban but managed to avoid being cautioned.
Although yellow cards are now wiped at the end of the quarter-finals, any suspensions picked up still carry over. This will leave Arteta with a dilemma to solve ahead of the match. PSG have no such worries.
