PSG has a big advantage over Arsenal

Former England international Joe Cole believes Paris Saint-Germain hold the advantage when they face Arsenal in the upcoming Champions League semi-final.

Arsenal suffered a home ground disadvantage in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

Joe Cole told TNT Sports : “Arsenal are in a very good position. The Premier League title is no longer their target, but now they are all-in on this arena. Arsenal have faced PSG in the Champions League group stage, so there are no surprises about the opponent.”

"However, the fact that the second leg is in Paris is a big factor. It's a big advantage, especially with the away goals rule no longer in place. I think this gives a significant advantage to the team playing the second leg at home," Cole analyzed.

Despite appreciating PSG's advantage, Cole still believes Arsenal have a chance of winning the Champions League, especially when they can focus fully on the European arena.

“If Arsenal were in the Premier League title race, I would say they have no chance,” the former England midfielder added. “But the fact that they can put all their energy and focus into the Champions League makes me believe they can go far.”

Previously, many opinions said that Arsenal suffered a great injustice when they continuously had to play the second leg of the quarter-finals and semi-finals away from home, even though the "Gunners" were in a higher ranking than Real Madrid and PSG.

Under the format of this season's Champions League, the teams in the top eight after the qualifying round are only guaranteed a home leg in the round of 16. From the quarter-finals onwards, the right to play the home leg is not based on performance, but is decided entirely by random draw.

This arrangement meant that Arsenal - the team that finished 3rd in the qualifying round - had to play the second leg of the quarter-finals at Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium, even though the Spanish Royal team was ranked 11th. The same thing will happen when Arsenal face PSG in the semi-finals.

As more and more teams feel unfairly excluded from playing the second leg at home, the pressure on UEFA to change the rules is growing. UEFA has taken note of the comments and will discuss the issue at upcoming meetings to consider changing the format for the 2025/26 season.

Every angle of Saka's goal against Real In the early morning of April 17, Arsenal defeated Real 2-1 in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at Bernabeu, including a beautiful goal by Saka.

Source: https://znews.vn/psg-co-loi-the-lon-truoc-arsenal-post1546590.html