Arsenal travel to Premier League champions Liverpool this afternoon looking to restore some pride after their Champions League exit.

Defeat at PSG in the week means the Gunners have endured yet another trophy-less season and to make matt…

The champions will get a Guard of Honour from the Gunners today.

It’s a short turnaround for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal face a quick turnaround as Mikel Arteta’s side travel to face Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

The Gunners may still be reeling from their Ch…

Martin Keown speaking after Arsenal’s defeat to PSG (Picture: X)

Martin Keown said Arsenal star Bukayo Saka ‘won’t sleep’ after the Gunners were knocked out of the Champions League by PSG.

Mikel Arteta’s side…

The ex-Arsenal midfielder remains optimistic the Gunners can advance.

Jurrien Timber is a major doubt.

Jurrien Timber is a major doubt.

The Gunners host Bournemouth in the day’s late kick-off.

Bukayo Saka has snubbed Premier League champions Liverpool and named the best team Arsenal have faced this season.

Arne Slot’s relentless winning machine celebrated their coronation last Sunday after thrashing Tottenham at Anfield, leaving the Gunners scrapping to finish as runners-up for a third year in succession.

Despite trailing in the Reds’ wake, Arsenal’s record against the Big Six remains impressive and equipped themselves well against Liverpool earlier this season in a 2-2 draw in which Liverpool secured a point thanks to Mohamed Salah’s late equaliser.

Mikel Arteta’s side, meanwhile, are unbeaten against the rest of the English elite and have largely coasted through to the latter stages of the Champions League where, until Tuesday night, Inter were the only team to have beaten them.

Arsenal face an uphill battle now to qualify for the final in Munich after Ousmane Dembele’s goal secured a first leg win for Paris Saint-Germain who have improved to such an extent since their meeting earlier in the season, when they lost 2-0, that Saka believes they are strongest side he has faced this season.

‘100% they were like a different team,’ said Saka in an interview with Sky Sports, when asked to rate PSG’s performance in midweek.

‘I know they only changed two players from the line-up against us previously but how much cohesion they have, how they flow, how they move the ball they were a lot better and they impressed me to be fair.

‘I would say so probably yes. They have a lot of threat up at the top end of the pitch and I think in the midfield as well they keep the ball really well and try and make you run. I don’t think anyone likes to run if I’m honest’.

Saka got the better of his direct opponent Nuno Mendes when the two clashed back in October, but it was a far more even contest in midweek.

‘It was a good battle, he’s a top full-back he’s so quick,’ said Saka. ‘I enjoy those battles and look forward to going against next week.’

Despite a far from ideal scenario heading to the Parc des Princes, the England winger remains confident his side are capable of raising their game and overturning a one-goal deficit.

He said: ‘I think it’s important to stay calm but obviously we know we have another level to go and I think we’re going to show it in Paris and I’m confident we can turn it around.

‘It was tough to find space, they put a lot of bodies around me, they defended well and I’m looking at the space I can find in the second leg.’

Mikel Arteta could rest some big names this evening.

Mikel Arteta could rest some big names this evening.

Mikel Arteta is expected to heavily rotate his team from the loss to PSG.

Mikel Arteta could rest some big names.

The Gunners take on the French champions in the first leg in the capital tonight.

The Prime Minister is hopeful his team will win the Champions League.

Aaron Ramsdale has backed Arsenal to win the Champions League and believes Bukayo Saka’s tussle with PSG star Nuno Mendes will be ‘crucial’ in the semi-finals.

Arsenal stormed into the last four of Europe’s premier competition with an emphatic 5-1 victory on aggregate over the holders and 15-time winners Real Madrid.

Declan Rice put the Gunners in the driving seat with two breathtaking free-kicks against Los Blancos, before Mikel Merino joined the party with a sublime first-time effort to make it 3-0 in a one-sided first leg at the Emirates.

Arsenal picked up where they left off at the Bernabeu, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli netting either side of of Vinicius Junior’s solitary strike, to set up what promises to be an intriguing two-legged battle with PSG.

Mikel Arteta’s men know what it takes to get the better of PSG having defeated the French champions 2-0 in the league phase of this year’s tournament back in October.

Kai Havertz and Saka scored that night in north London and Arteta will be hoping for more of the same from his players back at their home stadium next Tuesday.

Asked to rate Arsenal’s chances of winning the competition, ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Ramsdale replied: ‘Huge.

‘I think every Arsenal fan and the players definitely backed themselves against Real Madrid and they showed what they can do against that team.

‘They’ve already beaten PSG so that can give them great confidence.

‘I know two legs can be difficult but they’re still, they’re still pushing and, for me, if they get through, I think they will be the favourites to win it.’

Saka has hit the ground running since returning from hamstring surgery and will have breathed a sigh of relief to find the net after seeing an audacious Panenka attempt in Arsenal’s second-leg victory over Madrid.

Next up, the England winger comes up against PSG speedster Mendes – a player widely considered to be among the finest left-backs in the game.

On Saka’s form going into the semi-final, Ramsdale said: ‘He’s the main man really. They’ve had a lot of injuries to key players, he’s been out for a long time, but he’s still churning out the performances and getting his stats up.

‘I think that will be a crucial battle between Mendes and Bukayo, but I’ve got every faith that Bukayo comes out on top and he’ll be the one to push Arsenal through.’

Ramsdale was not overly surprised to see Rice take over free-kick duties against Madrid given what he had seen the England midfielder produce on the training ground during their time together at Arsenal.

‘I’ve seen him hit the second one before but I’ve never seen him hit the first one,’ the Southampton shot-stopper explained.

‘I would be a little bit critical of the wall but he’s still bent it around a yard outside the post and its come back in.

‘The second one I’ve seen him do, I know he’s got that in him, but do it after the first one, on that stage, it was a special night and I spoke to him after.’

According to Ramsdale, Rice is perfectly placed to take over the reins as England captain whenever the time comes for Harry Kane to relinquish the armband.

‘I think there are many candidates but Declan is one of the leaders,’ Ramsdale continued.

‘He’s played 50, 60 games now, his performances are at such a high level for Arsenal and for England.

‘If you go through the England team, he’s probably one of the first names on the teamsheet in the heart of that midfield.

‘Everything that comes with being the England captain: they way you have to talk, the way you have to face the press… he does that anyway.

‘I would back him to be a great captain after Harry.’

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