It’s the big one tonight. The season-definer (until, maybe, next week in Paris), the one in which glory could be found like Madrid at home, or gut punch can be received, like the home defeat to Man United within the first few minutes in 2009.

Arteta knows he will need the home support to replicate the night just a couple of week’s ago against Real Madrid. That evening was electric; you could sense it in the concourse before a ball was kicked. It needs to be the same for the visit of the perennial French Champions Paris Saint Germain tonight; a partisan crowd and a cauldron of noise needs to envelope the pitch, the stadium, the lot. Arsenal need to show up and bring their dinner. So do the fans – I am one who needs to as well.

I’m nervous, like I’m sure you are, but there’s no point in living if you cannot feel alive. This game brings fear and trepidation because PSG are a quality side, but Arsenal need to be able to show that – despite our injuries – we are quality too.

Merino and White were pictured in training and Arteta confirmed in his press conference yesterday that they were able to train. This is good. I listened to the Arsecast on my run this morning, with Andrew and James talking about who comes in to replace Merino if he isn’t fit. The answers as they pondered them were hardly ideal. So the fact the Spaniard has been confirmed as able to play (or the closest you’ll get to Arteta confirming that in a press conference) is a huge boost for us. It means the side is probably easy to pick and will no doubt line up as:

Raya

Timber   –   Saliba   –   Kiwior   –   Lewis-Skelly

Rice

Odegaard   –   Merino

Saka   –   Trossard   –   Martinelli

Bar Partey, that’s the best side we can put out and tonight I expect Leo and Merino to alternate their positions based on game state.

And the game state will certainly ebb and flow this evening. Whether or not PSG go ‘Full Gung Ho’ tonight I am not sure; Luis Enrique is a wily operator and he knows that if they leave too much space by pushing their wing backs forward when in possession, it will give Martinelli and Saka space to get in behind. Both are used to being doubled up in the Premier League every week, so if they are being given licence to roam, then that could be a fruitful avenue for us.

But we have to get the ball to them quickly, which is why the  likes of Rice and Odegaard are vital tonight I think. I suspect both need to have one of their best games of the season for us to get the outcome that we want. Any win tonight will do and with the away goals rule being a thing of the past, Arsenal just need to be looking to take something to the Parc des Princes next week. By hook or by crook.

So we might even see a bit of a cagey game this evening. PSG are a tremendous attacking outfit, they go back to front super-quick, but in Arsenal they have one of the best sides in Europe out of possession. You feel like we will have to prove that tonight because when PSG break those Arsenal players – like Saka and Martinelli and the diligent defensive work they do – will need to show how organised we can be without the ball.

Then the question becomes where we can impact PSG and cause them problems. I’ve mentioned in the wide flanks and I’m praying Saka has another awesome game tonight, but set pieces have also been called out a potential PSG weakness and Arsenal strength. We scored against Palac last midweek, but that was shocking defending and whilst it would be lovely to get that kind of time tonight, I think even against a team like PSG who have been highlighted by some pundits as not being the best on set pieces, I doubt we’re getting too much time and space in the box on them. Luis Enrique even said yesterday that of course they had been practicing on set pieces and training for them and you’d think they’ll have been mad not to put in some extra sessions to make sure they are prepped for our approach.

Emotionally I have the butterflies in the stomach, but it’s a very different feeling to the Real Madrid game. We’ve been to quarter finals before over the years. Semi final’s cut a little differently. You’re really starting to dream of a final at that stage whereas for the Madrid games I was just happy we were pitting our wits against the best teams. My expectations were low against Madrid and so it just became a glorious surprise. Now that we’ve taken that huge scalp in that competition, I’m looking at this game differently. I know that the game earlier on in the season has no bearing on what we’re coming up against tonight. I know that PSG are a better outfit who have clicked as the season goes on. I know that we’re going to face struggles and tough moments the likes of which we didn’t experience against Real Madrid or PSV at home. I’ve seen how they’ve dispatched Liverpool and Villa over both legs. All of that points towards this being a difficult and tougher game than the last round. But because we slayed that giant, because we’re closer than ever before, I am looking at this game with a greater level of expectation and excitement. Which hopefully won’t come back to bite me on the arse.

The players, the manager, everyone associated with the club has spoken about this tie with extreme excitement; these are the games that footballers dream about playing when they are kids, so they will have been uber-preparing for this game both mentally and physically. All that they need to do now is go out there and get the job done.

Half of it, at least.

Catch you all tomorrow. Fingers crossed, kids.