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Arsenal are gearing up to feature in one of the most important fixtures in their club's recent history as they will lock horns against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
The Gunners are aiming to reach their first Champions League final since 2006. They suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the semifinal courtesy of a goal from Ousmane Dembele.
So Mikel Arteta's men need a win with two-goal difference in the second leg to go through to the title clash in Munich. There's a lot of tension around this game among fans and pundits. Arsenal's recent form in the Premier League haven't been the best as they have won only one in their last five league games.
They are coming to this fixture after a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth away from home on the weekend.
The North Londoners were ahead by a first-half goal scored by Declan Rice but then two second half striks from the Cherries saw Arteta's men suffer a 2-1 defeat. Former Arsenal forward Ian Wright was furious with the attitude of the players while defending the sequences which led to the two goals.
Amid all the issues, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was optimistic about their chances heading into this fixture. "I'm confident that they can overturn the first leg, and they have the needed quality," Wenger said.
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"But of course, you need to have a great offensive performance, but you need as well to be capable to stop this PSG team, to stop them expressing their talent, which is not easy.
"They are playing at home, they can smell the final and will be difficult to stop."
He believes that the Gunners cannot afford mistakes in the backline against PSG's pacy attackers. Also, PSG have exceptional numbers at home. The Parisians have won three out of their last four Champions League fixtures at home whilst scoring 14 goals across those three victories.
Arsene Wenger denied Wayne Rooney's latest claim about Arsenal
Recently, Wayne Rooney also criticised Arsenal and claimed that they have a 'psychological fear' of winning trophies. Wenger completely denied these claims and feels that the North London outfit are getting closer to the trophy.
"You need to be inside the group to know that. I don't have that feeling, but we are a few years now where they have been very close, so maybe it has a weight."
"But at some stage you have to get it out, and the best way to get it out is to go out on the pitch and turn up and win a big game, a massive game. Tomorrow they have the opportunity and the players know they have nothing to lose. I think the judgment is severe and not deserved.
"But at some stage, you have to be there. At some stage you have win it ... and this team is strong enough to win the Champions League or to win the Premier League."
The 75-year-old acknowledged Liverpool's quality this season and believes that hardly anyone would have thought the Reds to be this good.
"Unfortunately for them, Liverpool this year was a tough opponent. Nobody would have predicted that Liverpool would make up 15 points difference on the rest of the pack, and so let's see [how Arsenal get on against PSG]."
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