Mikel Arteta rules out wholesale Arsenal changes in ideal preparation for PSG Champions League decider | OneFootball

Arteta insists his Arsenal side are focused on the Bournemouth game despite a huge European semi-final on the horizon

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Instead, Mikel Arteta’s side will host Bournemouth on Saturday before travelling to Paris four days later.

The Premier League has become a sideshow for Arsenal in their quest to win the Champions League for the first time.

Their form is evidence of that and the Gunners have drawn three of their last four league games, with their only win coming at the now relegated Ipswich.

Arteta made 17 changes to his team across those four matches and he will undoubtedly make some more on Saturday.

But the Spaniard has ruled out wholesale changes as he bids to build momentum ahead of Wednesday’s trip to the Parc des Princes.

“We have so much to play for still in the two competitions, Premier League and Champions League,” said Arteta. “The focus is there.”

Arteta may have preferred a weekend off and extra time on the training ground, but a clash with Bournemouth could turn out to be ideal preparation before facing PSG.

In terms of styles, the Cherries match up fairly similar to PSG - with both sides eager to press their opponents high up the pitch.

No team in the Premier League this season has won possession in the final third more times than Bournemouth, who do so, on average, 5.9 times per game. They are also No1 for possessions won in midfield, second for interceptions and third for shots from turnovers.

Mikel Arteta is a big fan of Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola

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That is all down to their manager, Andoni Iraola, who is a big believer in a high-pressing style. Indeed, in the season before he took the Bournemouth job, only Bayern Munich managed more high turnovers leading to shoots across the top five European leagues than Iraola’s Rayo Vallecano.

“I think he (Iraola) is doing an extraordinary job,” said Arteta. “I think he has changed a lot of things at the club as well, the atmosphere, the belief, the player that he’s recruited, the way they play, really impressive.”

PSG, like Bournemouth, are a high-pressing side and they sit second in Ligue 1 this season for possessions won in the final third - doing so, on average, 5.5 times per game.

It caused Arsenal problems last Tuesday night, especially early on in the game, and the Gunners finished the match with a pass completion rate of 83.8 per cent.

In both matches against Real Madrid in the previous round, Arsenal’s pass completion rate was over 85 per cent.

Bournemouth are, of course, not at the level of PSG, but they will at least give Arteta’s side a flavour of what to expect in Paris.

Iraola will not want his side to come to Emirates Stadium and sit deep in a low block, which is what Arsenal routinely face there.

The Cherries have pressed their opponents all season and it has paid dividends. They currently have the fifth best away record in the Premier League.

“Certainly in terms of intensity and how they approach every duel [Bournemouth and PSG are similar],” said Arteta. “In the way of playing they are a little bit different. They want to achieve things that are very similar to PSG in certain ways.”

We have so much to play for still in the two competitions, Premier League and Champions League

Mikel Arteta

Arsenal will also want the three points to ease any fears that they could be dragged into a fight to qualify for the Champions League.

The Gunners are currently second and the gap to Nottingham Forest in sixth stands at seven points with four games to go.

That feels like an insurmountable gap, however Arsenal have gone from chasing down Liverpool to looking over their shoulder.

They do not have the easiest run of games to finish either, with a trip to Anfield and a clash with Newcastle on the horizon.

On the final day Arsenal travel to Southampton, which could turn out to be a blessing if they do not pick their form up.