Reminder
All players who were previously on a suspension tightrope during the quarter-finals are now not after all existing yellow cards are wiped after the last-8 stage.
Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli all survived suspension by avoiding a booking during the second leg of their tie with Real Madrid.
Thomas Partey did receive his third booking of the Champions League campaign against Los Blancos, meaning he will miss tonight’s first leg against PSG.
Arteta: ‘One of the biggest games the Emirates has seen’
The Arsenal boss spoke about the excitement around North London ahead of tonight’s blockbuster first leg, he said: “=”You sense the energy, the enthusiasm, that it’s something unique.
“It’s probably one of the biggest games that the Emirates has seen since we built it. We are making history. It’s a beautiful story right now, but we want much more.
“We have to have the feeling that we have to hold [the players] back tomorrow to go on that pitch and express themselves. It’s a moment now to say: ‘OK, this is who we are, this is who we are as a team, this is who I am as an individual and I’m going to put my very best in there to make it happen’.
“Play with that mindset and let yourself go. Live the now, the present. This is where we are. We are so fortunate.”
Tonight’s officials
Referee: Slavko Vincic
Assistants: Tomaz Klancnik, Andraz Kovacic
Fourth official: Matej Jug
VAR: Alen Borosak
Assistant VAR: Dennis Higler
When Arsenal last faced PSG
Arsenal’s 2-0 twin against PSG was their first Champions League win of the season.
Kai Havertz put the Gunners in front on 20 minutes, getting on the end of a superb cross from Leandro Trossard.
Before Bukayo Saka doubled Arsenal’s lead after his wide free-kick avoided everyone in the box and flew straight past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Donn their homework
Italian star Gianluigi Donnarumma is seen as one of the best keepers in the world — but Arsenal will target him writes SunSport’s Charlie Wyett
Charlie wrote: “The Paris Saint-Germain No 1, 26, broke England’s hearts at Euro 2020.
He helped dump Liverpool out of the last 16 of this year’s Champions League and then frustrated Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.
Donnarumma has now played over 400 senior games but there is concern over his inability to deal with corners and crosses.
He can also be suspect with the ball at his feet.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is certain to tell his players to fire crosses into the box and they will look to make the most of their set-pieces.
Donnarumma’s shortcomings were exposed in the 2-0 loss at Arsenal in the group stages in October.
The Gunners’ first goal saw a hesitant Donnarumma beaten as Kai Havertz anticipated a cross from Leandro Trossard and nodded in.
Donnarumma was beaten again when Bukayo Saka’s low free-kick from the right went straight under him.
The Italian’s view of the ball may have been obscured, but there seemed to be no talking between Donnarumma and his defenders.”
Last time out for the Gunners
Arsenal secured their spot in the Champions League semi-finals with a 5-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid
In the first half, Thibaut Courtois denied Bukayo Saka from the penalty spot after a lengthy VAR check handed the Gunners a spot kick on 13 minutes.
Real were given a penalty of their own minutes later for a Declan Rice foul on Kylian Mbappe, but the referee decided against his initial decision after going to the monitor, and Arsenal survived.
Just after the hour mark, Saka opened the scoring on the night with a superb dinked finish, but the Gunners’ four-goal aggregate lead didn’t last long.
A William Saliba howler gave Vinicius Jr an open goal – and the Brazilian made no mistake.
In stoppage time, Gabriel Martinelli put the gloss on his side’s spectacular display with a stunning finish to give the North London giants a 2-1 win (agg 5-1) at the Bernabeu.
Arsenal are now in their first Champions League semi-final since 2009.
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