Robert Pires picks Arsenal vs PSG combined XI as 8 players from Gunners make line-up
Robert Pires has picked an Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) combined XI ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash. The two sides will face off at the Emirates Stadium in their second league clash on Tuesday, October 1.
The Gunners held Atalanta to a goalless draw away in their Champions League 2024-25 opener. Meanwhile, PSG beat Girona 1-0 at home in their opener. The two sides will now face off on Tuesday and look to earn three important points.
Ahead of the big clash, Arsenal legend Robert Pires picked his combined XI for the two teams in a conversation with 90min (via One Football). He picked eight players from his former club, starting with David Raya in goal ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma. He also picked William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes ahead of Marquinhos and Willian Pacho.
Two of the three players he picked from PSG were in the fullback positions - Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi. He picked them over the likes of Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, etc. from the north London side. He also picked Joao Neves from PSG in midfield.
Pires then picked Declan Rice and Kai Havertz in midfield alongside Neves. In attack, he went for an entire Arsenal frontline of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli.
Mikel Arteta on impact of Arsenal's win over Leicester ahead of PSG clash
The Gunners recently beat Leicester City 4-2 at home in the Premier League on Saturday, September 28. They took a 2-0 lead through Gabriel Martinelli (20') and Leandro Trossard (45+1'). However, the Foxes came back through James Justin (47', 63').
Leicester held on for a long time but an own goal from Wilfred Ndidi in the fourth minute of stoppage time gave Arsenal a crucial goal. Havertz then added another five minutes later to secure a thrilling win for the Gunners.
In a pre-match press conference ahead of the clash against PSG, Mikel Arteta was asked about the impact of the Leicester win, saying (via Arsenal.com):
"It shapes the character and the body of the team, that they have the certainty that they can win in any context and adapt to very different contexts during matches.
"The Champions League demands that, you can pretend to play against this kind of opposition and dominate for 95 minutes but it does not happen at this level so you have to be really good in other phases as well - to stay in the game, to be comfortable and still always have the belief and intention to win it."
The Gunners are still unbeaten across competitions this season and sit third in the Premier League.