PREM KILLERS
Gunners must stop PSG from KO’ing third EPL team in a row
MAGICIAN: Martin Odegaard will look to keep Willian Pacho and his PSG brasse busy on Wednesday MAGICIAN: Martin Odegaard will look to keep Willian Pacho and his PSG brasse busy on Wednesday
Image: Reuters
MARTIN Odegaard has urged Arsenal to “stick together” as they aim to defy the odds in Wednesday's Champions League semifinal showdown with Paris Saint-Germain at 9pm.
The Gunners head to the Parc des Princes faced with the daunting task of having to beat the French champions to reach the Champions League final for the second time in their history.
Arsenal are in swak form recently and are trailing 1-0 after the first tie following Ousmane Dembele’s winner in north London.
PSG have already eliminated Premier League champions Liverpool in the last 16 and Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, after beating Manchester City in the group phase.
Arsenal, who have never won the Champions League, are on the brink of becoming PSG’s latest English scalp this season after a disappointing first leg that could have ended in a heavier defeat.
KWAAI: Ousmane Dembele KWAAI: Ousmane Dembele
Image: EPA
Their preparations for the second leg in Paris couldn't have gone much worse as they slumped to a 2-1 home defeat against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.
Coach Mikel Arteta said Arsenal were full of “rage and anger” after two painful losses.
But Gunners captain Odegaard said they can use those emotions as fuel to inspire an epic victory over PSG - as long as there are no recriminations over the badly-timed slump.
Odegaard says: “We're disappointed now, but we have to move on and be strong and stick together and prepare for a massive game.
“It’s a massive game. That's the good thing. When you’re disappointed now and you're angry and frustrated, you can use all those emotions into Wednesday.
“We know what we’re playing for. We have to stick together and create energy and be ready.”