Graeme Souness warns Arsenal another Champions League team are ‘off the charts’

Graeme Souness has warned Arsenal that another Champions League team are ‘off the charts’.

The Gunners will look to book their place in the semi-finals of the competition on Wednesday night when they face Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Many pundits feared for Arsenal’s Champions League hopes ahead of the quarter-final tie but Real Madrid suffered a shock 3-0 defeat in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

Two stunning Declan Rice free-kicks and a Mikel Merino goal put Arsenal in a commanding spot as they bid to reach the semi-finals and ultimately win the Champions League for the first time.

Despite Madrid’s quality and European pedigree, tougher tests could still await Arsenal with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan all leading their respective quarter-final ties.

La Liga leaders Barcelona all but secured their place in the semi-finals with a thumping 4-0 victory over German side Borussia Dortmund last week, while French champions PSG lead Premier League club Aston Villa 3-1 ahead of their return leg in Birmingham.

In the most competitive tie of the round, Serie A giants Inter Milan hold a slender one-goal advantage as they prepare to host Bundesliga champions-elect Bayern Munich.

England legend Alan Shearer recently declared Barcelona the ‘favourites’ to win the Champions League but Souness has been ‘mesmerised’ by PSG and says their football is ‘off the charts’.

Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain will face Premier League runners-up Arsenal if both teams advance to the semi-finals before a potential Champions League final against Barcelona.

Writing in a column for Mail Sport, legendary footballer and respected pundit Souness said: ‘How good are Paris St Germain?

‘It’s so easy to be mesmerised by their ability on the ball and their pace but watching against Aston Villa, one thing jumped out at me – they work their socks off when they’re out of possession.

‘It’s always overlooked by the anoraks with their coaching books, their FA courses and annoying over analysis of “soccer”. This is the most important factor in the professional game and this is your starting point.

‘Not only are PSG a great watch but they are a great example to any young, aspiring player. Forget how much ability you possess, your starting point should always be: work harder than the guy you are up against.

‘Collectively, individually, PSG right now are off the charts. And it’s nice to see some things don’t change. Work hard was always the mantra at Liverpool.

‘You could have all the talent but the ones that work the hardest win the trophies. PSG are the perfect modern example.

‘When they sold Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid, many wrote them off but Luis Enrique has made them a greater talented group. I had to step back occasionally to check what I was watching.

‘Aston Villa are a really good team but Joao Neves, Vitinha and every other player in their attacking set up put the hard yards in the minute possession changed hands.

‘It’s not over of course but it will be extremely difficult for Villa to salvage this tie.

‘We saw how PSG, trailing from the first leg, went to Anfield, which can be the most intimidating place, particularly on European nights, and played without fear.

‘The Holte End will be doing their best but Villa will need an enormous slice of luck.’

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