Odegaard dropped, Merino return, Timber starts – Arsenal Champions League line-ups vs PSG

Arsenal take on PSG in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Arteta has got the benefit of some returning players such as Thomas Partey who was suspended from the first leg.

With that in mind, football.london’s writers have given their views on who should start for the club as they look to complete a European comeback. It is indeed all or nothing and the Gunners cannot afford to hold back in any way nor be afraid to take risks.

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Tom Canton

It is such a boost to have Jurrien Timber in the squad because despite having Ben White, it was obvious from the performance against Bournemouth he is neither match fit nor sharp for this one. Timber will be far better to deal with the one-on-one situations and outside of that penalty decision, he restricted Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to zero successful take-ons at the Emirates Stadium and will need to be on it again.

In midfield, the returning Partey is not just good for Declan Rice who was excellent against Bournemouth, in his familiar number eight role, but it allows Mikel Merino to return to the centre-forward position. Leandro Trossard will have to make do with a place on the bench.

While Martin Odegaard has been out of form, he, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka will need to find it within them to have the best performance of their lives so far. Finishing in particular needs to be on-point and if the chance to shoot arrives, take it!

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs PSG – Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Merino, Martinelli.

Cash O'Sullivan

In the first 20 minutes of the first leg Arsenal were overrun and outclassed by PSG’s midfield, until the Gunners were able to utilise the superb ball-carrying abilities of Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

There is no escaping the reality at the moment that Martin Odegaard is a shadow of his former self. Whatever the reason, the Arsenal captain has been timid, looked scared to take risks and has lacked a cutting edge.

This is a game that will require a huge performance and could require a huge decision from Mikel Arteta.

Dropping his captain and bringing in a fit again Riccardo Calafiori would allow Lewis-Skelly and Rice to occupy the midfield spots. There they can their physicality and running power to bypass the PSG midfield and carve out the opportunities Arsenal will need to take on the night with Mikel Merino returning to his makeshift striker role.

O’Sullivan’s XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Calafiori, Partey, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Saka, Merino, Martinelli.