Arsenal icon Paul Merson has insisted that the Gunners have "just a small chance" of advancing to the final of the Champions League tonight when they visit Paris Saint-Germain.
Mikel Arteta's men find themselves 1-0 down on aggregate after the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last Tuesday night. Ousmane Dembele's strike through a crowd was enough to separate the two teams.
Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos both went close to extending the advantage for the French club but, in the end, Luis Enrique's side had to settle for one goal. Such a narrow lead gives Arsenal a chance of turning things around at the Parc des Princes this evening - but Merson has told Sky Sports News that it will likely be a tall order.
"The players were nervous - it was the semi-final of the Champions League - and they have never been in the semi-finals of the Champions League before - they are not seasoned pros," Merson commented on Arsenal after the first leg defeat. "It doesn't matter how much money you earn, you are going to get nervous.
"PSG got that early goal and had Arsenal on the rack and I just think Arsenal were scared because they, perhaps, thought; 'If we let another goal in, we are out of the tie already'. They have [now] got another chance.
"They should have been completely blown out of this competition. They had chances - PSG - and I think it's now down to the first goal.
"If Arsenal score that first goal, it wipes out Tuesday's performance and it's game on. If Paris Saint-Germain score first, I can't see any way back. And I know people will say that Aston Villa went 4-1 down, but they were at home, with nothing to lose and could have a right go at it.
"People will say they won at the Bernabeu, but that was in the last minute. If it is 1-1 in the final minutes, PSG will not be playing gung-ho.
"There are a lot of things to think about, Arsenal are right up against it but, with Thomas Partey back, you never know. They have got a chance, but I don't give them too much of a chance."
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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