Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal will not rest players ahead of facing PSG in UEFA Champions League semi-final - 'They have to play'

Updated 22/04/2025 at 20:43 GMT+1

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. Gunners manager Mikel Arteta has claimed he will not rest his star players, and provided an update on Bukayo Saka's, who sustained a knock at Ipswich.

'They have to play' - Arteta not resting players ahead of Champions League semi-final

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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.
The Gunners' priority is now the Champions League, with a 13-point gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool, who will clinch the title should Arsenal lose in midweek.
But Arteta suggested resting players before next week's clash with PSG - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - could disrupt his side'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. They have the rhythm and that is when they are at their best.
"If they are not available, there is no discussion. 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."
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Highlights: Arsenal knock out holders Real Madrid

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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.
"We have to wait and see how he reacts after the [training] session, but he is nothing too serious," he said. "I think he will have a good chance to play tomorrow."
Arsenal will have a free weekend between the Palace clash and the Champions League semi-final first leg, and Arteta admitted the break could prove beneficial.
"We have more 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 added: "Our incentive is to win our game and to do our best to continue with our run that we are in right now. The rest we cannot control."

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