Team News: Laurent Koscielny starts for Arsenal, Petr Cech drops to bench

Laurent Koscielny has been deemed fit enough to start Arsenal's tricky opening Champions League group-stage tie away at Paris Saint-Germain.

The France international took part in training on the eve of this European showdown despite picking up a facial injury in the victory over Southampton at the weekend.

Koscielny's fitness assured, boss Arsene Wenger has named the experienced defender in the heart of defence alongside summer signing Shkodran Mustafi, although both Petr Cech and Granit Xhaka have been left out.

Francis Coquelin instead partners Santi Cazorla in defensive midfield at the Parc des Princes, while David Opsina comes in for his first start of the campaign.

In terms of the hosts, Unai Emery - a three-time Europa League winning manager in charge of his first European fixture at the helm of the French giants - has also sprung a surprise of sorts by naming Alphonse Areola in goal.

Angel di Maria and Edinson Cavani provide the Parisians' biggest attacking threat, meanwhile, as they aim to recover from a sticky patch of domestic form that has seen them fail to win either of their last two matches.

Paris Saint-Germain XI: Areola, Aurier, Marquinhos, T Silva, Maxwell, Verratti, Krychowiak, Rabiot, Di Maria, Cavani, Matuidi Subs: Trapp, Kimpembe, Lucas, Motta, Pastore, Meunier, Jese

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Iwobi, Cazorla, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Alexis Subs: Cech, Holding, Gibbs, Elneny, Xhaka, Lucas, Giroud

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