Not ideal. That is the short story for what is, of course, a multifaceted context after the home defeat to Bournemouth.
This was just Arsenal’s second home league defeat of the entire season, the problem being the poor form has come about through an inability to win games in the league with the 4-0 victory over Ipswich Town the only three points collected from the past five matches. While Luis Enrique made ten changes from the team that beat the Gunners on Wednesday night, Mikel Arteta went strong.
Ben White and Thomas Partey came in but otherwise the team was the same as the side from the Tuesday night defeat. Arteta was aksed about his Parisien opponent changing far more of his team but the reply was fairly obvious as it came back.
“Well, I don’t know, they won the league so they have the luxury to do that,” he said. “We haven’t because we still have a lot to do in the Premier League.
“But we have four days and I’m sure we’ll be fully recovered and our best to play the game.” A confident response regarding the players who will be ready despite just a few questions later admitting that several of those who started were perhaps not entirely fresh for the game and will now likely play again in just four days.