Wenger on familiar ground for ECL opener

Sep 12, 2016 - 4:40 AM Arsenal's long-serving manager Arsene Wenger will feel at home when he takes his team to the Parc des Princes for their Champions League opening Group A match against Paris St Germain.

A regular visitor to the French capital, the Strasbourg-born Wenger has often been linked in the past with an executive role at PSG when he finally leaves Arsenal, the club he joined in 1996.

Since then the London side have qualified for the Champions League in every full season of his management.

For the last 16 years in succession they have reached the second stage of the competition, only to suffer the frustration of defeat in the first knockout round for six seasons in a row.

Along with PSG, they must be regarded as favourites to qualify again from a group also including Basel and Bulgarian side Ludogorets.

Arsenal, who have a good record on recent visits to France, have recovered from taking a single point from their opening two Premier League games, winning the next two to reach sixth place in the table.

They needed a disputed late penalty, however, to beat Southampton 2-1 on Saturday.

PSG were also involved in late drama in their weekend game, although it went against them. Visitors St Etienne scored in the final minute on Friday to force a 1-1 draw.

Arsenal must do without injured club captain Per Mertesacker on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) but French international striker Olivier Giroud is back in contention for a place

Source: AAP