Steve McManaman struggles to see how Arsenal turn around PSG semi-final - 'People got carried away about them beating Real Madrid'

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TNT Sports expert Steve McManaman insisted it is "going to be hard" for Arsenal to turn around their UEFA Champions League tie with PSG. The Gunners lost the first leg of their semi-final 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium. It came on the back of a 5-1 aggregate success over Real Madrid, a result with which McManaman believes "people got carried away," given Los Blancos are not the force of old.

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TNT Sports expert Steve McManaman thinks Arsenal will struggle to turn around their UEFA Champions League tie against PSG, after "people got carried away" with their last-eight win over Real Madrid.

The Gunners reached the semi-finals of the competition with a 5-1 aggregate victory over Carlo Ancelotti's side in April.

That, though, was followed by a 1-0 defeat at home to Luis Enrique's side in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

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Mikel Arteta's side lived life on the edge too, with the visitors missing a glut of chances in the second half.

McManaman says that means the tie is still open, but believes PSG showed they are a significantly better team than Los Blancos.

"I think people got carried away about them beating Real Madrid," he told TNT Sports. "Real Madrid are not the force that they were last year.

"Because people probably haven't seen them as much as I have, they probably thought, 'We're going to do this and we're going to do that.'

"PSG are a different team. I thought they were excellent. They were fit, they got behind the ball when they lost it, they were very organised. They looked more of a squad.

"I thought Declan Rice played well, but up top, where they needed to be a little bit more creative, they were just shut out by a very good PSG team."

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The second leg of the tie takes place at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, May 7, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Arsenal have it all to do if they are to reach their first final since 2006.

They have won their last four away games in the competition, including that 2-1 success against Real at the Bernabeu.

But McManaman is struggling to see a repeat, as he continued: "It's going to be hard to go to Paris and get a result.

"Their stadium rocks when you're there. It's vociferous, it's loud, it's noise. I hope Arsenal get a result, I really do, but I think it's going to be hard."

Hargreaves: 'There's a chance'

It was not all doom and gloom for Arsenal in the first leg though.

The Gunners created a number of chances to score themselves, only to find Gianluigi Donnarumma in their way.

The giant goalkeeper made fine saves from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, while Mikel Merino had a goal disallowed.

On top of that, Martinelli whipped a late shot over the bar from a good position inside the area.

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TNT Sports' Owen Hargreaves believes that shows that the North London outfit can cause their opponents a few problems when they head to France, despite how well Luis Enrique's side played.

"I think you have to praise PSG," he said. "I just think they were brilliant on the ball. They had about 75% of the possession early [on].

"After, I think Arsenal did well to get back into the game. I thought Declan Rice was exceptional.

"At 1-0, I think it's still game on. Obviously, I think PSG are favourites and they probably have a stronger squad.

"But I think with PSG not getting a second goal late on, I do think that there's a chance."

Watch the Premier League and UEFA Champions League live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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