LEAGUE TITLE CHANCES

 

TOP 10 IN TOP 5 LEAGUES IN EUROPE

This is how the Top 10 Table appears in the Top 5 leagues, prior to the international break. Only Arsenal represents the English Premier League and LaLiga has four teams representing them.

Felix Ebih Ogbu

WHAT ARE ARSENAL'S AWAY RECORD IN FRANCE AHEAD OF CRUNCH UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL SHOWDOWN WITH PARIS SAINT- GERMAIN

Arsenal.com

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Arsenal will need a big performance if they are to overcome Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League second leg. Ousmane Dembele's goal gave the Parisians a first-leg victory at the Emirates with the Gunners heading to France needing a win to remain in contention. TNT Sports looks at whether history is on their side at the Parc des Princes.

Arsenal are facing an uphill task if they are to reach the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since 2006.

Mikel Arteta’s side put in a lacklustre display in the first leg of their semi-final as they were beaten 1-0 by an impressive Paris Saint-Germain, thanks to Ousmane Dembele's early goal.

And ahead of the second leg, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, the Gunners find themselves in inconsistent form, losing their most recent Premier League outing against Bournemouth leaving them with just three league wins in 10.

Europe remains their last shot at silverware this season and Arsenal will have to produce something special to overturn the first-leg deficit and advance to the final in Munich at the end of the month.

The trip to France may be a daunting one, but it presents an opportunity, and Arteta’s side might look to take inspiration from previous trips to the country.

What is Arsenal’s record against French teams away from home?

Ahead of their latest showdown in Paris, Arsenal have played away in France in European competition a total of 15 times, winning eight, drawing five and losing twice. They have scored 20 times and conceded 14 in that time.

While Gunners fans will be encouraged by the victories, there will be concern that only one of these has arrived by more than a single goal, which would only be enough to force extra time this week.

Another concern would be that, after a run of seven victories between 2000 and 2015, their last two trips to France against Stade Rennes and Lens have ended in defeat.

Winning in normal time would require Arsenal scoring twice, something they have managed five times in total in France, and have only ever failed to score in the country on one occasion.

Defensively, Arsenal know a clean sheet is probably needed if they are to realise their ambitions, something they have managed six times on previous trips to France.

What are all of Arsenal’s results in France?

FC Rouen 1969/70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup third round first leg – 0-0

Arsenal first visited France in the third round of the 1969/70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup – the predecessor to the UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League – taking on FC Rouen in a first-leg stalemate.

The Gunners won an equally tight second leg 1-0 with a last-minute winner from Jon Sammels on their way to lifting the trophy.

Paris Saint-Germain 1994/95 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final first leg – 1-1

Arsenal’s next trip to France in European competition was coincidentally to the Parc des Princes to face PSG back in their successful 1994 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup run.

The leg of the semi-final in France saw Ian Wright put Arsenal in front 10 minutes before half-time, though David Ginola levelled for the home side in the second half.

Kevin Campbell secured a 1-0 win in the return match to send Arsenal to the final.

Auxerre 1994/95 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final second leg – 1-0 win

The following year saw Arsenal win in France for the first time courtesy of an Ian Wright screamer in the second leg of the Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final, following a 1-1 draw at home.

Lens 1998/99 UEFA Champions League group stage – 1-1

The Gunners were left frustrated in their opening match of the group as Tony Vairelles’ stoppage-time equaliser denied Arsene Wenger’s side victory after Marc Overmars had given them a second-half lead.

Nantes 1999/00 UEFA Cup third round second leg – 3-3

Leading 3-0 from the first leg, Arsenal were 6-1 up on aggregate by half-time at Stade de la Beaujoire after Gilles Grimandi, Thierry Henry and Overmars cancelled out Antoine Sibierski’s opener for the home side.

Nantes did rally, however, as Sibierski and Marama Vahirua restored pride by salvaging a draw.

Lens 1999/2000 UEFA Cup semi-final – 2-1 win

With a 1-0 lead from the Highbury fixture, Henry’s goal before the break at Stade Bollaert-Delelis doubled Arsenal’s advantage in the tie.

Although Pascal Nouma reduced the deficit, Nwankwo Kanu restored the two-goal advantage late on to book the Gunners’ place in the final.

Lyon 2000/01 UEFA Champions League second group stage – 1-0 win

Henry was once again the scourge of his countrymen with the winning goal in this clash at Stade de Gerland.

Auxerre 2002/03 UEFA Champions League first group stage – 1-0 win

Another hard-fought victory on French soil, with Gilberto netting the only goal of the game at the start of the second half.

Marseille 2011/12 UEFA Champions League group stage – 1-0 win

A now familiar scoreline when Wenger returned to his homeland with Arsenal. This time the Gunners left it late with Aaron Ramsey snatching the winner deep into stoppage time to steal the three points.

Montpellier 2012/13 UEFA Champions League group stage – 2-1 win

An electric start saw Younes Belhanda fire the home side ahead from the penalty spot but within ten minutes, Arsenal were ahead through Lukas Podolski and Gervinho with no further scoring.

Marseille 2013/14 UEFA Champions League group stage – 2-1 win

Theo Walcott volleyed Arsenal into the lead at the Velodrome with 25 minutes to play before Ramsey wrapped up victory with 5 minutes to play.

Jordan Ayew scored a late penalty, but it was ultimately inconsequential.

Monaco 2014/15 UEFA Champions League round of 16 – 2-0 win (3-3 aggregate, lost on away goals)

A seventh successive win on French soil, but there was little cause for celebration as Arsenal crashed out of the competition.

A shock 3-1 home defeat left the Gunners with all to do in the return match, but goals from Olivier Giroud and Ramsey weren’t enough and the Ligue 1 side advanced on away goals.

Paris Saint-Germain 2016/17 UEFA Champions League group stage – 1-1

Edinson Cavani headed PSG in front after three minutes and threatened a rout but wasteful finishing allowed Alexis Sanchez to snatch a late point for the Gunners.

Stade Rennais 2018/19 UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg – 1-3 defeat

A first defeat in France came against an inspired Rennes side who were eyeing a huge scalp.

Alex Iwobi put the Gunners 1-0 up but a red card for defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos turned the game on its head as Benjamin Bourigeaud, a Nacho Monreal own-goal and Ismaila Sarr compounded Unai Emery’s side to defeat.

The Gunners recovered to blitz their opponents 3-0 in the return leg to advance.

Lens 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage – 2-1 defeat

Arsenal’s most recent trip across the channel also ended in defeat despite taking an early lead through Gabriel Jesus.

Goals from Adrien Thomasson and Elye Wahi stunned Arteta’s side.

- IBRAHIM MUSTAPHA

MAN UNITED AND SEVILLA TUMBLE OUT OF EUROPEAN COMPETITION AFTER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LOSES

AP Photo 

PARIS (AP) — The Champions League proved too tough for Manchester United and Sevilla. Now, even the consolation Europa League spot is out of reach.

Both teams were eliminated from European competition Tuesday night to finish bottom of their groups.

Three-time Champions League winner United needed to beat Bayern Munich at home and hope for a favorable result in the other Group A game but lost 1-0 to the six-time winner.

Instead, unheralded Danish side Copenhagen qualified in second place after beating Turkish team Galatasaray 1-0 at home. Galatasaray finished third to qualify for the Europa League knockout round playoff above last-place United — which sustained 4-3 losses at Bayern and Copenhagen and conceded 15 goals in six games. It is only the fourth time a Premier League team has finished bottom of its Champions League group.

Earlier on, defending Europa League champion Sevilla — which has won the Europa League seven times — lost 2-1 at Lens to finish bottom of Group B as the French team finished third.

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ARSENAL SUFFER DOUBLE BLOW WITH SAKA INJURED IN LOSS TO LENS

Reuters

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he is worried about Bukayo Saka's availability for Sunday's league game against Manchester City after the forward went off injured in the first half of their 2-1 Champions League defeat by RC Lens.

Saka was replaced by Fabio Vieira in the 34th minute of Tuesday's game and Arteta said the muscular issue was "big enough not to allow him to continue to play the game and that's obviously a worry for us".

LIGUE 1 STANDINGS | LIGUE 1 2023

LIGUE 1: TODAY'S FIXTURES | 10 SEPTEMBER 2020 | GMT

 

EUROPA LEAGUE: MOURINHO BLASTS MANCHESTER UNITED FOR LOSING

Jose Mourinho questions players commitment towards the team...He blasted his players and told them "We played like it was a summer game"...

EURO 2016: ENGLAND YAWALAZA MAJIRANI

Timu ya England imefanikiwa kupata ushindi dhidi ya timu ya Wales ambao ni majirani wao katika Falme ya England huko Lens, nchini France kwa bao 2-1...

Wales kupitia mshambuliaji wake mashuhuri Gareth Bale ambaye pia anachezea timu ya Real Madrid ya Spain, aliwezesha timu yake kuongoza katika kipindi cha 1 baada ya kufunga goli la mkwaju ama free kick katika dakika ya 42... Kipindi cha pili kocha wa England Roy Hodgson alilazimika kufanya mabadiliko ambayo mchezaji Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge waliingia kuongeza mashambulizi... Ilikua dakika ya 56 ambapo, Uingereza iliweza kusawazisha kupitia Jamie Vardy... 

Wales waliendelea na kazi ya kutetea goli lao ambao iliwapa England kazi ngumu hadi mpira kuingia dadika za nyongeza...Daniel Sturridge ndio akapata upenyo dakika ya 91 na sekunde ya 3 na kuifungia timu yake ya England bao la pili ambalo lilimaliza mechi hiyo kwa ushindi wa magoli mawili dhidi ya moja lililofungwa na Gareth Bale.