Deschamps dismisses Arsenal form

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps believes Arsenal’s poor domestic form is irrelevant as the two sides prepare to meet in the Champions League.

Arsenal are 10th in the English Premier League, while in France Marseille are even worse off – 15th in Ligue 1 with just one win.

But Deschamps’ men have two wins from two in the Champions League, topping Group F by two points from Arsenal, and he says his players are less nervous playing in Europe than in the French league.

“I do not think that to compare our situation in the Championship as theirs helps to know which team is going to win or not,” Deschamps said.

“Arsenal has lost many important players but remains a team with really good offensive players.”

“About our bad start in the Championship, we must win from now, especially at home. We do have a pressure in the Championship we do not have in the Champion League – the players are probably less nervous.”

Marseille take on Arsenal at the Stade Velodrome on Wednesday night, and Deschamps believes taking full points at home is imperative to his team, who face back-to-back matches against Arsenal.

“We have to play two games against Arsenal, a team which is of course the favourite of the group,” he said.

“There are six points to grab and it can be decisive before the last two matches.”

“The only advantage we have is that we have got six points, they have got four. After the match tomorrow we will know more about the situation, there will be one game less to play.”

“If we have the chance to win tomorrow, it would be so great for us. It would not mean we would be qualified but it would put us into a nice position.”