THERE are occasions when you can get lucky coming second in the group and get an easier tie in the next round — but Arsenal fans will not need reminding what has happened to them too often in recent years.
It makes sense to try to finish top of the group and both teams will have that in their minds — because the big advantage comes by playing the second leg of the last-16 round at home.
That is the bonus for winning, nothing to do with the money for the club.
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It is also psychologically good to beat a real rival in a crunch game.
GO FOR GIROUD, ARSENE
Arsene should play Giroud up front for three reasons:
- He scored such a crucial goal on Saturday at Old Trafford, securing a 1-1 draw late on after Arsenal were largely second best.
- Arsenal are at home and will be looking to get balls into the box — and it is obvious that Giroud is more of a box player than Alexis Sanchez.
- As a French player, Giroud will have an even bigger motivation to show PSG and French fans the condition he is in.
I also know Arsene Wenger thinks that if a player comes off the bench and has a big impact, scoring an equaliser or a winner, he will be right for the next game.
It therefore makes sense to play Giroud as the centre-forward, with Sanchez starting on the left.
The alternative view is that you might need more defensive cover on the left, which Alex Iwobi could give you if Sanchez was playing through the middle.
But with Angel Di Maria out, that danger from PSG is less, although it will still be important that Sanchez is prepared to work back at times and help out Nacho Monreal.
SANCHEZ SWITCHEROO
IN an attacking sense, when Giroud is the centre-forward Arsenal have more options to hurt PSG.
Sanchez would start on the left but he can come inside to the No 10 position, with Mesut Ozil adjusting and floating to the left.
If those two are switching, it will cause problems for any team — so it is important that even if he starts on the left, Sanchez does not play as if it is a fixed position. He needs to get to the edge of the box through the middle at times as well.
If they can be this fluid, then Ozil can be the key player for Arsenal to win the game.
XHAK ATTACK
PSG are a different side from last season without Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
They still have Edinson Cavani and Lucas Moura plus Marco Verratti and Blaise Matuidi, although Di Maria will be a miss.
But they have changed their style under Unai Emery.
They are not dominating in France but, after five years of being the best team, it’s not a surprise if they lack motivation.
Yet they still have it in the Champions League and Emery has proved he is a good coach.
They are well organised in midfield, while their full-backs — Maxwell in particular — are very quick. If anything, with Hector Bellerin out, the PSG full-backs are better than the Arsenal ones.
This is a game where Granit Xhaka has to show what he has.
It is difficult to change leagues and clubs but the former Borussia Monchengladbach man has the ability to impose himself on a game like this and it is important that he does so to break up the PSG attacks.
BOTH of these teams are at their best offensively and that is why I think it will be a great game to watch.
They are pretty well matched and while PSG were the better side in the first game, Arsenal finished it the stronger after they equalised.
It is a slightly odd game in that both sides are already through.
That means they do not have to be as cautious as they might be in a match where a defeat or a mistake could be so costly.
And both sides will be prepared to take more risks.
But Arsenal also have home advantage and I think it will be an open game with plenty of goals, especially if one team can score early and set the tone.
Prediction: Arsenal 3 PSG 2
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