Arsenal can complete job Liverpool started with perfect UEFA Champions League blueprint vs PSG

With a long list of absences and playing one of Europe’s most in-form sides, will need grit, determination and street-smarts to beat Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final.

Last month, PSG subjected Liverpool to possibly the most one-sided match they have experienced in recent years.

With 70% possession, the French outfit launched a brutal attack on Alisson’s goal, forcing him into nine saves throughout the game, some of them world class.

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But for all their pressure, it was Liverpool who came out on top on the night. In a perfect demonstration of the art of hanging in there, Harvey Elliott’s 87th minute winner from the Reds’ only shot on target was enough to seal the match for Arne Slot’s men.

Regardless of Luis Enrique’s system clicking into place and PSG’s attackers being at their dynamic best, Liverpool provided the perfect blueprint on how to beat the French champions.

Now, having seen off Real Madrid in emphatic fashion, Arsenal will take on PSG this Tuesday in the Gunners’ first semi-final since 2009.

, Arsenal may need to show a similar ability to dig in if they are to progress.

Fortunately, have shown that they are more than capable of doing so, as shown by their own contest away at Manchester City back in September.

Leading 2-1 heading into half-time, Leandro Trossard picked up a second yellow card for kicking the ball away following a foul. From here, ’s side gave a masterclass in heroic defending, brilliant shot-stopping and every ounce of gamesmanship in keeping out Man City.

Guardiola brought on £150million of talent in John Stones and Jack Grealish, as well as the previous year’s player of the season, Phil Foden in an attempt to turn the match in their favour.

In the second half, the home side had 88% possession and 28 shots in an incredibly lop-sided 45 minutes.

Eventually, in the 98th minute it was Stones who broke the door down to level the game, but the fact that Arsenal came seconds away from surviving the Man City onslaught was testament to their defending.

On Tuesday evening, Arsenal host PSG, another side who will aim to smother them through keeping the ball – only Man City and Bayern Munich have a higher average possession in this year’s competition.

Arsenal have injuries to Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jorginho, with Mikel Merino, Ben White and Ricardo Calafiori also doubts. Thomas Partey is suspended for the first leg after accumulating too many yellow cards.

Perhaps, with a weakened side, Arsenal’s best route to victory is to sit back and absorb the pressure. In years gone by, the North London outfit’s soft underbelly has been a consistent criticism, but Arteta has now built a team capable of winning in different ways.

With their set-piece ability, Declan Rice’s dead ball prowess and dynamic attackers, a more pragmatic approach might be required, and they’ve certainly shown they’re capable of it.