Ex-Premier League striker insists Champions League is Arsenal's for the taking

Former Premier League striker Shane Long believes the Champions League is Arsenal's for the taking ahead of facing Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.

Arsenal thumped Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate to reach only their third ever Champions League semi-final, with PSG now the only side standing in their way of reaching the final in Munich.

The first leg takes place at the Emirates on Tuesday night and Long, speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes, feels Arsenal have enough to go all the way despite the bookies giving the French champions and fellow semi-finalists Barcelona a higher chance of winning the competition than the Gunners.

The Irishman said: "Yes, Arsenal can win the Champions League, I think.

"I was really impressed with how well they controlled Real Madrid, and how quiet they kept them across both legs.

"Even with the three-goal lead, if they'd have conceded an early goal at the Bernabeu, then that's a really hard team to go and contain, in a really intense environment.

"But they never looked in any trouble, and actually looked really experienced being in that position, despite never having been there before.

"Even when they lost Gabriel and Jakub Kiwior came in, I thought that might have been a weakness which could have been exploited.

"But it hasn't been the case at all so far."

PSG are second favourites to win the whole competition despite surviving a scare against Arsenal's Premier League rivals Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, progressing 5-4 on aggregate despite a shock 3-2 defeat at Villa Park.

Luis Enrique's men still exhibited their quality over two legs and having also beaten Liverpool in the last 16, Long knows they will prove a tough opponent in North London despite Arsenal having the edge for the first leg.

"They play PSG now, and at the start of this European campaign, I wasn't really too impressed with them," the 38-year-old added.

"But what they've done in the knockout stages has been really good - they look a real threat, and are full of energy.

"I do fancy Arsenal to get through it, though, and after that, I think it's theirs for the taking. I really do."

"I thought Aston Villa were really unlucky against them [PSG] in that first-leg - they got punished with a late goal which changed the whole fixture, but at home I thought that Villa dominated them and PSG looked under all sorts of pressure.

"Villa just couldn't get that goal to level things out. It's been a tale of two sides when it comes to PSG in Europe this season; we've seen a few teams turn them over in the group stages, so a lot will come down to which PSG side turns up over these next two legs.

"I fancy Arsenal to go through, though." 

Despite the bookies backing Arsenal in Tuesday's first leg at the Emirates, PSG are considered to have a slightly better chance of winning over two legs and reaching the final.

Check out Ladbrokes' match betting tips for the first leg this evening, with Mikel Merino seen as the likely goalscorer to back, as well as our piece running through the favourites to win the Champions League, with the race considered the closest it has been for years as four impressive sides battle for glory.

We have also looked at the route Arsenal must take to reach the Champions League final, as well as how Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea can reach the Europa League and Conference League finals.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.