BBC Radio 5 Live

Mirror journalist John Cross' on the rest of tonight's Champions League fixtures: "Celtic are strong but Dortmund are formidable and are really strong Champions League campaigners.

"And Manchester City? Well Celtic battered Bratislava 5-1 last time out to give them some confidence, so City really should really be strolling this, with or without Rodri.

"City are favourites for the Champions League, I'm sure they'll win this.

Brendan Rodgers agrees that facing Borussia Dortmund in front of their famous "Yellow Wall" of fans on Tuesday is the "acid test" of Celtic's ability to compete in the Champions League.

But he is confident that improvements to his squad this summer have shown they can "bring our game to the next level".

Asked if this was the acid test for his Scottish Premiership leaders, Rodgers replied: "I think this level is about as much about the head as it is about the skill. I don't doubt that with this team.

"I think we arrive in a great place. I am very relaxed and focused that we can get a result that builds on the first result."

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In January 2001 Mikel Arteta left Barcelona for Paris St-Germain in a move that would ultimately help transform one of the most intelligent midfielders of his generation into one of the game’s top coaches.

It was where he first displayed the leadership qualities that have seen him progress to Arsenal manager and he will welcome PSG to Emirates Stadium on Tuesday in the Champions League.

The 18-year-old Arteta, faced with the impossible task of usurping the likes of Pep Guardiola, French World Cup winner Emmanuel Petit, Dutch international Phillip Cocu and Xavi Hernandez in Barcelona’s star-studded midfield, had moved to the French capital on an 18-month loan deal.

PSG were yet to become French football’s dominant force but had progressed to the second group stage of the Champions League and boasted several big names of their own, including Jay-Jay Okocha, Nicolas Anelka and Mauricio Pochettino.

A young Brazilian by the name of Ronaldinho would join the club from Gremio later that year.

Arteta barely spoke any French, but a small contingent of Spanish speakers helped him settle quickly into life in Ligue 1 and despite his tender years, the teenager made a big impression at the Parc des Princes.

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Alex Howell
BBC football news reporter

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber says the current fixture schedule is "dangerous" and is a "big topic" in the dressing room.

The debate about the football calendar drew attention after Manchester City midfielder Rodri said players are close to going on strike due to the congested schedule.

Timber, who missed the majority of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, said he "totally agrees" with Rodri's comments.

The 23-year-old Dutch international added: "It's a big topic at the moment in dressing rooms, not only at City and Liverpool but also our dressing room.

"I didn't play last season, so I'm just enjoying playing right now - you won't hear me complaining - but I totally understand what they're saying."

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BBC Radio 5 Live

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John Cross told BBC Radio 5 Live he thinks Arsenal should could get a good understanding of where they stand in Europe from tonight's game with PSG: "It's probably one to get the pulses racing tonight and a good test for Arsenal who obviously drew their first game away at Atalanta and PSG sneaked through against Girona.

"So I do think it'll be a good test for Arsenal and obviously Mikel Arteta played for PSG in his career.

"I do think Arsenal could put down a bit of a marker by winning this one.

"They'll fancy their chances against this PSG side which is more about being a team unit rather than those glamorous stars from a couple of seasons ago."

BBC Sport's French football expert Julien Laurens discusses how Paris St-Germain will play this season and their chances of winning the Champions League, now that star striker Kylian Mbappe has left for Real Madrid.

BBC Radio 5 Live

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The Mirror's Senior Football Writer, John Cross, has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about Arsenal's game with PSG tonight: "Sorry to disappoint but it is a team [PSG] that perhaps lacks those megastars of a couple of seasons ago.

"Yes, they've still got Marquinhos in central defence, Donnarumma in goal, but the manager has even fallen out this weekend with one of France's big stars, Ousmane Dembele who's not in the squad because of a bust-up, so it's not the star-studded line-up, but still PSG brings a gravitas and a glamour to the Champions League group stages.

"I would argue it's Arsenal's most glamorous group tie of this new format."

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Will the Luis Enrique-Ousmane Dembele fallout turn into an episode of Eastenders? Or whatever the French equivalent programme would be? No, says Luis Enrique.

"I am very honest and I will be honest, but I am not going to create a soap opera out of this," said the PSG boss.

"There are no problems between us. That is completely false. This is simply about the responsibilities of the player.

"It doesn't mean this is irreversible, but I took the best decision for the team and that is why I signed here, to create a team that has a strong identity and has a lot of character."

Arsenal

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Despite the exclusion of Ousmane Dembele from the PSG squad, Mikel Arteta knows Arsenal are rubbing shoulders with the big guns tonight.

"The opposition we are facing tomorrow is probably the highest level you can find in European football," said Arteta, who played for PSG between 2001 and 2002.

"But it is a great opportunity for us to see how we deal with it and how prepared we are and how we can impose ourselves in this kind of context."

Arteta also said defenders Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori will be in contention for selection.

White has missed the past two matches with a knee injury, while Calafiori landed awkwardly on his left leg in the closing stages of the win over Leicester on Saturday.

Arteta said 22-year-old Calafiori "was a bit emotional after the game" but the Italian was seen during the Gunners' training session yesterday.

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Over to Arsenal now and the Gunners have been boosted by the news Ousmane Dembele has been left out of the Paris St-Germain squad for tonight's game at Emirates Stadium.

France forward Dembele has scored four times in six Ligue 1 matches for PSG this term and also played in the 1-0 win over Spanish side Girona in their Champions League opener.

However, reports had emerged that the 27-year-old had a disagreement with PSG boss Luis Enrique after being substituted late on in their 3-1 win over Rennes in the French top flight on Friday.

"If someone doesn't comply or respect the expectations of the team, it means they are not prepared to play," said Enrique.

"I want all my players to be ready, so as a consequence I have left him out. I want the best for my team and that is my job.

"These circumstances are difficult and you have to take difficult decisions but I am 100% engaged with my decision and 100% sure of the decision I have made."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Mirror journalist John Cross' take on the new Champions League format: "I'm really mixed about it. I think the beauty of football is that it should be simple. You know what you have to do to go through.

"And at the moment, while yes, there is more ties. It's a lot more glamorised but I just think that the first round of group games made me think that teams can play safe and not really worry about qualifying because it's all too easier for the big clubs to get though.

"I think they have replaced that sense of jeopardy. Yes, there was some dead rubbers in the old group stages but I wonder about this league phase. I think the extra games is causing players to worry about burnout.

"I do wonder if we're going to get the glamorised and the really big European nights that this was bought in for."

Manchester City

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In Saturday's 1-1 draw at Newcastle, Rico Lewis started alongside Mateo Kovacic in midfield but John Stones has performed the role well in the past, most notably in the 2023 Champions League final win over Inter Milan.

"It's happened a lot over the past two years," Stones said. "It was a bit different in the Champions League final. I was a bit higher up and it was a new challenge for me, one that I enjoyed. Whoever plays in midfield has played there before and knows what is asked of them by the manager.

"I love it. It's a totally different look on the game and appreciation for the game. Understanding the game, learning from a defender's point of view when to receive the ball and when to pass the ball. I always enjoy it and try to improve every time I go in there and give my best.

"That's all the manager wants from us, to go and show out qualities, because he puts us there for a reason. Then it's about going out there and doing our job."

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Manchester City

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John Stones says he "loves" playing in midfield and will "100%" fill the void left by Rodri if called upon by manager Pep Guardiola.

The Spain star is out for the season with a serious knee injury and speculation has begun about how Guardiola will adjust his team without the key man in his midfield.

"If called upon, 100%," Stones said when asked if he would step in from central defence.

"[Rodri's injury was] difficult news for us all to take. I spoke to Rodri yesterday and he's doing well, recovered well. It's sad for the standard he's set over the past few seasons. We know what a key player he is for us and we have to look forward to him coming back. We know it's gonna be a long time.

"We have a lot of quality and there are lots of players who can fill in in that position.

"He's come to terms with it and he seems in good spirits. He's over in Spain with his family and needs to take some time now to relax and recover as best he can."

Manchester City

We haven't seen much of last season's PFA Player of the Year Phil Foden so far this campaign, with Pep Guardiola starting the 24-year-old midfielder just once in the Carabao Cup win against Watford last month.

The Spanish boss has spoken about how important Foden is to City, saying he has "no doubts" about the England international's ability.

Have a watch of the video above. The praise for Foden comes right after a bit of Gaudi chat.

Manchester City

Manchester City will be most people's bet to take all three points against Slovan Bratislava tonight but Pep Guardiola says his team will not be taking anything for granted.

City were held to a draw against Inter Milan in the opening game of the Champions League, while Slovakian side Slovan were beaten 5-1 by Scottish champions Celtic.

Guardiola said: "When you have won four Premier League titles in a row in one of the toughest leagues in the world, and a Champions League winner two years ago, we accept we are favourites when we play.

"They did not give me 2-0 before the game - it starts 0-0, same pitch. We have to prove it. We will put out the best team possible to compete and beat them.

"I have huge respect for them, and the patterns they make, but we will try to impose our game."

Manchester City

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How would you respond to being compared to Gaudi? Tough one.

For Pep, he said while he appreciates the sentiment, he won't be taking his opponents lightly tonight.

"No glass of wine for my colleague?" Guardiola joked. "I appreciated that a lot, but from Catalonia Gaudi was maybe the greatest."

He continued: "I want to say something honest - with this start of the press conference (it seems like) we are going to play a friendly game tomorrow.

"I'm a little bit concerned about that in terms of the questions about Gaudi and this kind of thing. It's a competition!"

Manchester City

Slovan Bratislava coach Vladimir Weiss has given Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola high praise indeed.

The 60-year-old, speaking in his news conference yesterday, compared the Spaniard to Catalan architect and designer, Antoni Gaudi, adding Guardiola "has been building something and he is a genius".

"Just like Gaudi had his idea of a cathedral, now he's achieved what he wanted to do," said Weiss. "He's selected players who fit his philosophy."

The Champions League returns this week, which means you can watch highlights of every game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.

If you're still trying to wrap your head around the new format which is home to a comically large league table, then have a watch of the video explainer above.

Passionate stuff, Ed! We can feel your belief.

Liverpool

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Champions League debutants Bologna will be the Liverpool's 10th different Italian opponent in European competition, after Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma, Genoa, Milan, Fiorentina, Napoli, Udinese, and Atalanta.

Are the omens looking good for a home win? Well, not quite. In European competition, sides from no other nation have beaten Liverpool at Anfield more times than Italian clubs (7 - level with Spanish). The Reds have lost three of their last five at home to Italian sides (W2).