PSG and Bayern in 'different world' to Premier League

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side will play at least 62 games this season, 63 if they reach the Champions League final [Getty Images] Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich are competing in "different worlds" to Premier League teams, says Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. And the Spaniard believes the difference in attacking quality on show in the first two legs of the Champions League semi-finals is down to the 'freshness' of the players. Ligue 1's leading side PSG edged out the German champions 5-4 in a thrilling tie at the Parc des Princes in Paris, while the Gunners ground out a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid .

Arteta says PSG and Bayern's star players were able to be fresher than the Gunners' tired attacking talent, which he believes is down to differing levels of competition they experience in their domestic leagues. "To deliver that much quality you have to be very fresh, and the difference in the leagues and the way they are competing is night and day," said the Arsenal boss. "You just have to see a lot of stats around it.

We are comparing two different worlds. " A record-breaking semi-final - the antidote to modern football? Ranking the players who could decide the Champions League semi-finals Who will win the Champions League?

Place your vote Collectively, Arsenal's starting XI in their Champions League semi-final first leg have played 32,508 minutes this season - more than any of their rivals left in the competition. Atletico's starting XI have played 31,701, compared with Bayern's 31,522 and PSG's 29,968. The Gunners' David Raya (4,140), Martin Zubimendi (4,096), Declan Rice (4,002) and William Saliba (3,774) were all in the top five, in terms of minutes played this season, out of the four starting line-ups.