MIKEL ARTETA was quick to stress that Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final with PSG was merely at “half time”; after his side’s defeat at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
And Dream Team managers would do well to heed the Spanish tactician’s encouragement.
Ousmane Dembele scored the only goal of the first leg as Luis Enrique’s side struck early and defended their narrow lead to frustrate the home fans in North London.
The relatively even contest would have taken on a different complexion had Mikel Merino’s (£4.6m) header been allowed to stand early in the second half but the Spain international was adjudged offside upon review.
Few would deny that the Ligue 1 champions are now favourites to reach the final but it would be foolish for Dream Team bosses to turn their backs on the Gunners at this moment in time.
Arsenal are one of just four teams set to pull double duty in Gameweek 34 and so there’s little sense in ditching the likes of Bukayo Saka (£6.1m), William Saliba (£4.4m), David Raya (£4.5m) and Declan Rice (£4.9m).
For many gaffers, the Gameweek 34 double header was always the primary motivating factor in the decision to recruit Arteta’s favourites in the first place.
This coming Gameweek, Arsenal will host Bournemouth in the Premier League before travelling to Paris for what could be a tense second leg in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
The Cherries have impressed again this season, not least when they beat Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium back in October, but this weekend seems like a good time for the reverse fixture.
Andoni Iraola’s side are fading as the campaign draws to a close; only West Ham and the three relegated sides have earned fewer points from their last ten league games.
A trip to the Parc des Princes is a daunting task however you dress it up but with double Gameweeks getting rarer, gaffers can’t afford to be picky when it comes additional point-scoring opportunities.
Remaining loyal to Arsenal makes sense for now but that could all change after Gameweek 34.
If they are unable to overturn the deficit against PSG then it might be time to consider replacements, especially if Manchester United, Tottenham and/or Chelsea succeed in their respective European semi-finals.
Manchester City and Crystal Palace also have an additional fixture to fulfil in the form of the FA Cup final – a boost to their top performers.
Looking further ahead, Arsenal finish the season with a trip to Southampton, the most one-sided match-up of Gameweek 37 on paper, but before that they are due to face Liverpool and Newcastle, two fixtures at the other end of the scale in terms of competitiveness.
However, if Saka and company pull off something special in the French capital then many gaffers would be inclined to stick by their Arsenal assets until the very end of the season.
What’s clear is that next week’s European second legs will have a huge bearing on how the rest of the Dream Team campaign plays out.
