What to expect from PSG tonight: Jorginho Should Play, Saka-Mendes Showdown, Chances Up-front

TotalArsenal

As a matter of fact, and for many reasons, PSG will be a test.

First, because they will try to hurt us as in England, only City and ‘Pool were dead set on doing when traveling to London, in the latter seasons. Maybe even more so, since we have to keep in mind that they know, the journalists know, the fans know that at ” home ” they’ll win the double, again, this season. As a consequence of which, their season’s real assessment is based on CL performances only.

To tell you how true this is, their home win (I repeat: their win!) against Girona ten days ago almost triggered the start of a crisis, because their display had been so poor. For them, and all the usual observers of French football – starting with the ” L’Équipe guys ” for whom the flat EEG of French football is a nightmare, they love nothing more than a PSG crisis – even a draw will be deemed unacceptable. Which is why they won’t bother much about us, and will play on their strengths, the main of which being … their midfield.

Now that Mbappé is gone, that Ramos is injured, and since Enrique doesn’t rate Kolo-Muani, there’s a fair chance they will play with a ” false 9 “, which they’ve done for the last 3 or 4 games, with Asensio ” upfront “. But he might not be back from injury, which means their 3-man midfield will be Zaïre-Emery/Neves/Vitinha, while the fourth man is very likely to be Ruiz. Whether it be Asensio or Ruiz anyway, well … this is a technically very, very strong engine room, all the more so since they’ve been Enrique-drilled for a year now, and we all know how obsessed he is with not giving the ball away foolishly.

So much so that, as far as possession is concerned, I don’t think we will get the better of them, which we shouldn’t have too many bad dreams about, since the latest version of Mikel’s Arsenal has been so impressive defensively. But … there’s giving up possession and there’s giving up possession, isn’t there? It would be suicidal to let them enjoy 70% or more of it, which is why (back to square one) either Leandro, or Kai, has to go, imo, so we can field a third man in midfield by Declan and Thomas’s side. My pick would be – however impressive Ethan’s cameo may have been yesterday – Jorginho, so as to play Declan in a (much) more advanced position.


As for our CF I’d go with Leandro who is an incredibly smart, streetwise forward, our one and only cold-blooded assassin in the box too … but I think it’s ” Smudge ” Kai who will get the nod, and that’s fine with me as well, even though I think he’s not at his best right now … but he has that mean streak which allows him never to have a 100% ” off ” day.


Whether this is the kind of lineup Mikel has in mind or not (I’m not sure about this at all, I think he might decide to keep on with the Leandro-Kai pair), our guy upfront will get opportunities, since their ” weakness ” (if I could use a dozen inverted commas there, I would) certainly is their central defense. Marquinhos has been on the wane for a few seasons already, but will play (and skip them), while the new boy Pacho looks good, but is finding his feet at the moment. Lucas Hernandez’s absence is a terrible blow to them, imo, but I’m biased here. I think Lucas is one of the very best French defenders … ever. I keep thinking he’s the unsung hero of the 2018 WC, when he was our best player – not Pogba, not Lloris, Not Mbappé, not Kanté, not Griezmann … Lucas! (I can’t bear the recollections of Anfield ’89 leaving Kevin Richardson out of the praise either, but that’s another story of course).
(1) (2)
Tuesday’s game will be a war of the Titans … on the wings. I agree with all you have said, TA, in your previous post about Marti, Bukayo, Jurrien, and 2024 Maldini, but the four of them will be put to the test Tuesday night. The Saka-Mendes showdown will be a game within the game. The whole point will be which one will turn the other into a defender. If Bukayo does so, and keeps Mendes on the back foot, he’ll have won a decisive victory for the whole team, given how dangerous the Portuguese is when he can turn into a winger. Upfront, on the left, there will be Barcola, who is the brand new French wonderkid. He’s a free-spirit, Bradley, constantly inventing, improvising, you never know whether he’ll choose to go wide and look for an assist, or dart inside and try to get his name on the scoresheet; he will be Jurrien’s first very significant test.


The same could be said of the other wing, and I don’t see how Riccardo could do anything but focus on defending. I don’t know how much you know of Dembelé, guys, but believe me he’s a true wizard, a dribbling magician. Of course once he has dribbled past his defender, he often looks like a barking dog having finally caught the car he was chasing … and who doesn’t know what to with it, but he has improved his scoring output lately, so our legionary will have to stand his ground, put Ousmane under constant pressure. Lastly, there’s the Hakimi-Martinelli duel: Gab has picked the perfect moment to get his form back, hasn’t he? I think he can prevail, disturb Hakimi with his futsal style of dribbles, as well as thwart him when the Moroccan wanders upfront.


So … a classic you never know, of course, but I’d be very disappointed if we were no treated to a true CL night, round-of-8 level at least …

Serious plot twist(s) about tomorrow’s game – what’ll take place on our left flank in particular.


What’s sure is that Dembelé won’t play. He’s rumoured to have had a “heated” (understatement) argument with Enrique after the Rennes game. Looks like the Spaniard didn’t like it one bit, so much so that Ousmane won’t even make the trip to London.
His usual backup is the Korean Lee Kang-in, a muscular, fast, hard-working left-footed RW, who’s the perfect, relentless team player, but is not at Ousmane’s level …
More worrying are the news about Calafiori, who’s said to have been seriously (??) injured in stoppage time against Leicester. Let’s hope this is clickbait nonsense, otherwise Myles Lewis-Skelly, in the absences of Ben-Kieran-Oleksander-Tomi … is very likely to be given the first start in CL of his so-promising young career. The lad would have to rein in his attacking instincts, though, otherwise Lee might wreak havoc in the open space in our back line …
I do hope the Riccardo rumours will turn out to be nothing at all – the importance he has taken in our setup, in so little time, is nothing short of mind-blowing.

By argallh

COYG

58 thoughts on “What to expect from PSG tonight: Jorginho Should Play, Saka-Mendes Showdown, Chances Up-front”

  • Thanks Legall,

    That is a great background to PSG post. I look forward to watching the battles in midfield and on the wings and will certainly not underestimate them.

    Has the team changed a lot since their heavy defeat at St James’ last season?

  • Joginho can’t run and bullied in midfield. Modern football is not about passing but off the ball tackling as well. Joginho hasn’t got of the ball. He’ll be 34 this December and Arteta made a mistake re-signing him.
    Chelsea got rid of him and we brought for his pension as we do for mostbex Chelsea players. Partey is the only player capable of playing a single pivot which even can’t.
    Arteta will play Partey and may be replace him later in the game Arteta trusts Patyey in that position.

  • Thanks Total and LG for building the anticipation. My salivary glands are on steroids…

  • Just watching the U19’s, missed the opening 5 minutes.

    PSG looked better at passing the ball around on a soaked pitch and a cross shot should have given them the lead but i5 went narrowly wide of the far post.

    Arsenal take the lead via a corner initially cleared then returned back into the area and Annous gets the opener. Arsenal are playing well now.

  • Kamara off with knee injury replaced by 14 year old Max Dowman…

    Dan Casey looks useful, Julienne looks good, Annous is very promising.

    PSG looking a bit frustrated with Arsenal on top.

  • Beautiful move and very simple, Ayden Heaven receives the ball from the goalkeeper and from the edge of our box he sweeps a Sailba’esque pass bending it around a PSG defender into the path of Dowman on the right flank and after cutting inside Max bends a cracking shot from the edge of the PSG box which just goes wide.

    The Arsenal defence is keeping up the tradition of its seniors.

    Halftime 1-0

  • Interesting post on tonight’s opponents from Paris…

    I think a team coming to the Emirates and going for it will suit us even if it’ll mean a few scary moments. Going forward PSG sound very dangerous which should make for an intriguing contest vs the Arsenal defence, a few long balls over the top may well negate the PSG midfield who probably aren’t used to running back towards their own goal to defend.

    In attack I think we’ll see the same four, mainly because of their versatility and ability to switch positions. Should be a stern test for the Parisien defence.

    2nd 45, Arsenal almost make it 2-0

  • The rain is tipping down in Borehamwood, but the PSG goalkeeper is singing in the rain after another top quality save, this time from a Dowman blockbuster.

    At the other end Nygaard hasn’t had a difficult save to make mainly because of the defence in front of him as well as the poor finishing of the French.

    Nygaard punches away from a cross leading to another yellow card for an Arsenal player as the referee gets busy. Nygaard tips over from the free kick.
    Paris are pushing hard for an equaliser.

  • Lovely one-two build up from the Paris attack, through on goal, certain goal but Nygaard parry’s it wide.

    Some Arsenal possession brings relief after a lot of Paris pressure and we create a free kick chance from Rosiak that is cleared. Good game considering the conditions.

    Heaven and Clarke standing firm in front of Nygaard and the big Scandinavian makes another top save. Long range Parisien effort wide.

  • Substitutions: On come some fresh legs, Annous off for Forde, Julienne off for Sweet.

    5 minutes plus added time to go.

    Corner for Arsenal, wasted.

    Just wide after spin and shot by Paris striker.

    5 added minutes.

    Jack Wilshere giving it large a la Arteta

  • Great defensive display by the Arsenal kids what ever the result.

    Heaven clears again and I’m in it.

    Dowman in box, should have gone down after a foul, he kept his feet and the ref plays on, explains a lot…

    Final whistle and it’s 1-0 to the Arsenal…

    Allez les rouges

  • Now, time for the seniors to replicate the U19’s

    Nygaard looks good, Dowman is quality, Heaven is quality, a few others have the potential to have a top level career.

  • A monsoon win it was
    Dowman deserved a goal, but Laurendon wouldn’t have it … The boy has opted for Morocco (his mother’s homeland), otherwise he’d be France U19 GK.
    The second half was nervy but at the end of the day there’s a lot to be happy about; I found the Annous-Casey partnership very promising, in particular
    Well done lads, let’s put the older Qatari mercenaries to the sword now
    COYG

  • Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Havertz, Martinelli, Saka, Trossard

    Subs: Neto, Porter, Kiwior, Kacurri, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Jesus, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji, Robinson

    Some interesting substitutes, Robinson has been doing some good stuff in the U21’s and deserves his recognition, Butler-Oyedeji has improved a lot this season, not sure if he’ll ever be Arsenal level but he’s earned his spot on the bench. No other surprises other than Merino, all being well he should get a few minutes at the end of the game.

  • A couple of hairy moments but Arsenal have pretty much been in control and could have had a couple more.

    Now with Leicester in mind and a 2-0 half-time lead let’s see the boys come out a bit more switched on in the second half.

    I reckon that Jesus would have some luck with these PSG defenders, just saying!

  • The night we drove the oilers down …
    From the stands, that must be something; is your boy in, Kev?
    We’ve annihilated them, Timber in particular has made Barcola look like a U19, what a performance! But of course the whole team was immense, our high press was a choreography, no less.
    If we score a third, they might very well collapse altogether
    COYG

  • Listening to Arsenal.com and it all sounds great. Like Kev, I am wary of complacency in the second half.

    Question: did Saka mean it? Winterburn thinks the free kick was rehersed.

  • Your Mama was right, LG. And didn’t Kai’s header bring “Smudger” to mind.

    No complacency in that second half, Total, only discipline, concentration & control. Leandro was superb, as was Declan with his constant, indefatigable movement, his nousie positional sense, well timed interceptions and clever sportsmanship.

    “The bells are ringing” and “The people are singing”, indeed.

  • Yes LG my lad was at the game, I’ll speak to him tomorrow.

    Yeah Total the 2nd 45 was the a bit hairier than I would have liked, the PSG seniors are as poor as the U19’s at finishing, mind you Martinelli should have killed off any resistance, but resistance is very much a French trait so we had to suffer.

    On the break Arsenal still looked more likely to add to the goal tally but other than some tactical changes by Enrique I thought losing Timber cost us both progressive full-backs as both Kiwior and Califiori played more conservatively which obviously affected the influence of our wingers. They still put in great shifts.

    Defensively Arsenal are astonishing in their resolve, yeah we had a couple of slices of luck, not least the Califiori ‘ball to hand’ – PGMOL would have certainly seen it as hand to ball, but our handsome Italian has a touch of the luck of the Romans.

    Havertz was brilliant up front and Merino had a steady if low key introduction to the journey, Myles had an interesting cameo, I’m not sure that he touched the ball but he got drawn into giving away an avoidable foul in the dying minutes – a lesson learned perhaps as the CL can be a cruel mistress and another example of why this level of football is not for kids, well not until they’ve grown up.

  • I wonder how the fitness situation is going with

    With the uncertainty over the a availability of Timber and White we could do with TT stepping into the right-back spot so that Califiori can return to the left.

    I saw some of the Preston vs Watford game yesterday evening, 2nd half, and it was like watching Stoke playing, er, Stoke, two teams going long, hurling long throws into the box and getting into each other’s faces with some hefty challenges.

    With Paul Heckingbottom as Preston manager (ex-ManUtd player) straight out of the Alex Ferguson school of ‘if you can’t beat them, kick them’, you can expect a physical encounter when we visit Deepdale later this month in the League Cup.

    Depending on availability, Arteta will need to pick a team prepared to get stuck in, which isn’t a perfect scenario given the tie is in between Newcastle (a) and Liverpool (h) – on the plus side both of them have League Cup ties as well…

  • Those who know me, know that I am not shy when it comes to criticizing Arteta.
    I feel no shame about it: he is a public figure with an astronomical salary, we are entitled to have a balanced yet reliable view about him. So if and when he makes a wrong decision or demonstrates one of his weaknesses I don’t think it goes against club loyalty to mention and discuss it, as it not implies his inadequacy, only his imperfection.

    The same applies to the positives and strengths (whereof he has many), but there are plenty of supporters to point those out, so I am rarely involved in praising Mikel.

    However there is something that might fly under the radar, thus worth mentioning. In past years Arteta has transformed Arsenal that at home turf we are the expected winners not only against the vast majority of domestic clubs, but also against European giants. It didn’t click last year as we were struggling big time against Porto and later against Bayern Munich, but this year we gave no chance to PSG who is in fact a Bayern level opponent (omega level threat). And the emphasis is not on just winning, but giving no chance. Against a team who has the highest combined xG from the first 6 games of the ’24-25 season in the top 5 leagues.

    Obviously, the ultimate prize are the silverware, but an very important milestone on the way that come Liverpool, Manchester City, PSG or high water, they should be really happy with lucky draw from the Emirates.

  • Status report from the GN5 memorial prediction competition.

    Only 6 matchdays have passed from the PL campaign, that is about 15%, so the spread is really small at this point.
    LeGall and TransferMarkt are tied in the lead with 44 points each, while the remaining 5 of us are trailing behind with 38 points.

    The real surprise to me, is that there are 2 players with the 4-block difference (that worth -5 points), and they are LeGall and TransferMarkt. The former expects Man United in the first 4 a.k.a. ‘The League of Champions’ while they are currently sit at #13 (Climbing up or falling down), and the latter predicted Fulham to be bottom tier (Tested and found wanting), yet now they sit among ‘The challengers’ at #6. But both contestants made up for that slip with having the most correct – same tier (4 points) – predictions, when the rest of us have 2-3 less.

    Everything is expected to change, so this is a snapshot only, having minor correlation with the final result. Regarding the sum of expected table points and goal difference (that supposed to decide ties), purely extrapolated from the first 6 rounds Arsenal is supposed to finish with 137 (91+46). Apart from ChatGPT’s lousy 121 everybody else has predicted a higher sum; concluding firstly that we had a rough start playing already with Aston Villa, Tottenham, and Manchester City (all away from home), and secondly that the boys should start to live up with the flattering expectations. 🙂

  • Thanks for your post game thoughts, Kev.

    I thought that was a very mature allround performance, and Legall was spot on with his preview focus points. So good to have such good, insightful bloggers on BK.

  • Hello, guys. Nice going out here with the posts.
    It is another match day and one with interesting, if not emotional, prospects for fans of the Arsenal as Aaron Ramsdale returns to the Emirates to spar against his old teammates.
    Personally, I am conflicted as one one hand, I’d wish for the boys to rack up on the goals difference front; while, on the other hand, I won’t be too happy of Ramsdale has a blinder against us but we get the 3 points nevertheless. Poor guy seemed pressured to leave the club and with only S’pton in sight with an offer, he had to take the leap. Now, he’s been conceding far too many goals to do his England chances any good.

    Arsenal will need those points and get them we will!

  • Good to hear from you, Eris. I was starting to get worried.

    All agreed re Aaron. The Saints may be harder to beat today than most expect. I take a1-0 to the Arsenal right now.

  • Thanks, P.
    I’m not sure I understood every detail of your report, but what I did get is that I’m at the front of the “peloton”, and that’s fine by me.
    This might be the reason why, awed by my powers of divination, Kev seems to have chickened out of the contest … or it might be that his time-traveling DeLorean has turned into my dear ol’, much less effective in a prediction competition …

    … who knows?
    I think it’ll be hard to be a Saint in London City today. I watched the first half-hour of their game at Dean Court, but I quit because it was too painful to watch Aaron in such a parody of a professional team. What a sad “from Capitol to Tarpeian Rock” journey it’s been for him lately. I hope Mikel didn’t play the video of the game to the lads, if he did, how could they not be complacent today?
    Don’t you lower your guard, boys …
    “Sautons sur Sotton”!!

  • Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Jorginho, Rice, Havertz, Sterling, Saka, Jesus

    Subs: Neto, Lewis-Skelly, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Merino, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Trossard, Butler-Oyedeji

    An interesting selection, Havertz looks to be playing a more withdrawn role. Partey seems likely to play as the floating full-back. Up front some fresh legs in a line-up I’d guess that Southampton weren’t expecting.

  • A bit of composure needed methinks.
    Also the referee gives me the impression that he feels sorry for Southampton.

  • Thanks TA. Been a bit busy and distracted.
    Southampton have made it a rip-roaring end to the encounter. Still time to get one or two more to add gloss to the scoreline. Come on, lads.

  • Is not Kai now a100 million quid striker? What a goal and what an all round performance. I think I am ready to make him my all time favourite German to play for The Arsenal. Young Gabi’s goal was also a thing of beauty, the lad is finding form again. And Bukuyu did that Bukuyu thing again. Our Star Boy is nothing if not consistent.
    A lovely reception for Aaron must have encouraged him. Let’s hope he can do enough to prevent the Saints going off the edge of that “Tarpeian Rock” at seasons end.

  • Wasn’t able to watch the game 😕

    Will do so today, but from the radio commentary it was clear that Buk and Kai were special once more. Really glad that Marti took his chance so well.

    There really are no easy games anymore.

  • Tarpeian rock, Stu, is a very dark rock. Those Romans had a cruel streak, didn’t they?

    I am in awe of Aaron. It so sounds he believed he had to leave his favourite girl in the world in order to live again, and he did so with the heaviest of hearts. Yesterday will have been really, really hard for him. He even loves his strongest competitor for his girl and is not bitter, and Raya has also been a true gent. I think Shakespeare would have loved to have turned this into a story of love conquering all.

    All the best at the Saints, Aaron, and one day you’ll return to the Arsenal; it’s written in the stars. 🌟 🌟 🌟

  • Nice sentiments chaps, can’t say that I’ve ever heard of Tarpeian rock before, is it like Southend rock, very tasty but no good for your hampsteads.

    Interesting Total that you say that one day Aaron might return, given that the Raya/Ramsdale scenario definitely has echos of the earlier Seaman/Lukic episode, therefore you might then be closer to the truth than you think given the ages of David and Aaron?

    What a little gem is our Leo, is there anyone at our club who can control a ball under pressure better than him and still tie his adversary up in knots?

    The drop off in intensity from our forwards was quite worrying after that initial blast, only Saka was able to keep it up for the entire 1st half. Was that just match-fitness or the fact that both Jesus and Sterling are not what they once were?

  • That would be so nice, Kev. Aaron would deserve that, and he said he wanted to become our new Seaman, so he has unfinished business.

    I thought Raheem had a decent first half, but I have yet to watch the second one. Gab Jesus is clearly struggling to fit in – a whirlwind making itself dizzy 😵

  • Stu, I missed all last three games, yet we are paying through the nose for Sky and TNT. Luckily, there is Arsenal.com who do a truly amazing radio commentary.

  • LG mentioned it in an earlier comment, Kev. Shouldn’t really be applied to Aaron as the Rock was an execution site reserved for real scoundrels. We can give our Gallic mate some leeway as his writing is so darn fine. Belles-lettres. Belle écriture, mon ami.
    Kai’s goal was vintage Van Persie. He needs a new song.
    How about, “Something in the way he moves, attracts me like no other striker. Something in the way he woos me. You know I believe and why. We’re falling in love with Kai. Somewhere in his smile he knows that we don’t need no other striker. You know I believe and why. We’re falling in love with Kai…”

    I’m loving, “The King of Brazil” for our Gab.

  • Stu, the fernleaf crooner…

    Really enjoyed the results today, Ten Hag gets just enough to stave off the inevitable, Chelsea stumble and Tottenham are just hilarious.

    Football can be so much fun… 😃

  • Yup, Kev. We are crooning and laughing down under…
    Some fantastic goalkeeping in that Forest/Chelsea game.

  • Total, I’ve been scribbling, I hope it proves useful.

    Stu, I’m relying on you to be laughing and crooning all the way to May.
    I have this feeling you see, no don’t get alarmed it’s a good feeling, an open top bus to the Town Hall feeling…

  • Yet another sad day for football.
    50 years ago, almost to the day, the two Johan together produced this.
    That’s how I’ll rememeber them – as many football fans, I think.
    RIP Great Men

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