Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their highly-anticipated UEFA Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night - live on TNT Sports and discovery+. But first they host Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday night. Mikel Arteta, manager of the Gunners, has said that he will not rest his star players. He also gave an update on Bukayo Saka, who got hurt at Ipswich. Mikel Arteta has insisted he will name a strong team for Arsenal's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain next week.
With a 13-point lead over leaders Liverpool, who will win the title if Arsenal loses in midweek, the Champions League is now Arsenal's top priority. Arteta, on the other hand, suggested that resting players ahead of the live TNT Sports and discovery+ matchup with PSG next week could upset his team's "rhythm." "We cannot think in those terms. When the players are fit and available and want to play, they have to play," Arteta said in his press conference before the Palace match.
"They are at their best when they are playing and they have consistency in their performances and physically and emotionally they are good. When they are at their best, they have the rhythm. "There is no discussion if they are not present. If they are not in a good condition to perform, we are not going to play them. But if they are, we will play them."
Bukayo Saka needed physio attention after a heavy challenge during their most recent victory over Ipswich, but Arteta gave a positive update on the 23-year-old.
He stated, "We must wait and see how he reacts after the [training] session, but he is nothing too serious." "I believe he will have a good opportunity to play tomorrow," Arteta acknowledged that Arsenal will have a free weekend between the match against Palace and the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. We have additional days. The amount of options we have is not that many, especially because of where the players are coming and the amount of minutes they can play," he added.
"It's good to have a little gap because we are really short in numbers."
But the Arsenal boss reiterated that the immediate focus is on Palace.
"Let's take the opportunity first of all," he said. "Earn the right to win the game tomorrow against a really good side. They have a really good record away from home as well and after that, we have time to prepare the [PSG] game really well."
He went on to say, "Our motivation is to win our game and do our best to continue our current run." The rest we cannot control."
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