Arsenal: Declan Rice delivers verdict on new Champions League format before PSG blockbuster

Declan Rice believes the Champions League’s new format means sides are facing tougher games sooner, with Arsenal’s showdown against Paris Saint-Germain worthy of a semi-final.

The Gunners are hosting the French champions on Tuesday night in what is their second game in this season’s revamped competition.

The traditional group stage has been scrapped in favour of a new 36-team league format, with clubs each playing eight matches against sides from four different seeding pots.

UEFA believe the new format creates more competition and Rice also feels that is the case, with Arsenal handed big games against PSG and Inter Milan as part of their league phase run.

“It is a different format now, but we are coming up against probably tougher teams than you normally would in a group stage format. We have got tougher teams now,” he said.

“We have got an exciting night here, which is our second game. Usually you would find these games in the quarter-finals or semi-finals, so for it to be our second game is massive.

“It is a big game because we need to get points on the board in this new format. We will be ready and we are excited, because we have not played PSG before. They are a top team, so we will be ready for that one.”

Arsenal are unbeaten in all competitions so far this season after an impressive run of results this month. The Gunners beat Spurs in the north London derby and then drew at title rivals Manchester City, while they also kicked off their Champions League campaign with a point away at Atalanta.

Those results have come during a busy run for Arsenal, who are now in the rhythm of playing twice a week, but Rice believes the squad can handle it.

“[We are coping] really well,” he said. “It is obviously tough, but mentally we have to wrap our heads around the schedule, make sure we are doing everything off the pitch to prepare and be ready because the games are coming faster.

“There are so many meetings and so little training sessions to prepare, but the way we are playing at the minute, we are really confident we can go into any game and be ready. We are looking forward to that one [against PSG].”