PSG do their homework on Arsenal as French champs 'obsessed' with Champions League

PSG manager Luis Enrique is confident about his knowledge of Arsenal as he prepares for Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg in north London. Despite a 2-0 loss at the Emirates Stadium in the league phase in October, the Spaniard said: "Did I already start analysing Arsenal? No, because I already know Arsenal perfectly.

"For a very long time, it's a team I've followed. For the rest, the qualities we have, the faults we have, are the same. We can improve, yes, but if you focus on what's negative, that's your problem. We don't do that. Of course we want to improve, but there is no perfect team and we won't be either."

Both teams have had ample rest ahead of the crucial match, with PSG hosting Nice in Ligue 1 on Friday after securing the title, and Arsenal managing a 2-2 home draw against Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Despite their group stage defeat to Arsenal, PSG, having eliminated Liverpool and Aston Villa in the knockout stages, believe they are a different team altogether now.

However, Enrique insists the best is yet to come from his team, noting: "There's been a lot of growth in the team. The team was very young, now we're coming in with more confidence.

"We're having a rather strange end to the season, of course, in the league, but there are important things to accomplish.

"We're coming to a great moment in the season because we're obsessed with the Champions League. We're going to have a great version of PSG against Arsenal."

In their last match, a 2-1 Ligue 1 win over Le Havre, Enrique rested nine players likely to start against Arsenal, prioritising their fitness.

Only Bradley Barcola and Achraf Hakimi started, while Ousmane Dembele was left out of the squad entirely. Centre-back Willian Pacho missed the match due to illness but returned for Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Nantes, a welcome boost for Enrique.