Raphinha sends Arsenal brutal Champions League message amid transfer hope as PSG reality clear

Away from Champions League semi-final events at either the Emirates Stadium or Parc des Princes, Arsenal may have kept their eyes on the heroics of Barcelona's Raphinha.

were subjected to on Tuesday night, in the French capital next Wednesday.

Meanwhile the opposite semi-final between and Inter Milan, which started in Spain on Wednesday night, will determine either Arsenal or PSG's opponent for May's final in Munich.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Their first meeting was a scintillating affair, finishing 3-3 to similarly leave the tie in the balance headed to the San Siro.

Early on Inter dominated, taking just 30 seconds to find an opener and adding a second not long after. At this point the switch was flipped and Barca fought back to level before the break.

Full-back Denzel Dumfries would put the Italians back in front after 63 minutes but then came , the hero as he has been so often this campaign.

The ex-Leeds United forward took part in an elaborate corner routine, firing powerfully from the edge of the penalty area. The shot cannoned back off the crossbar and was sent over the line via a deflection off diving goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Even though this would cause it to go down as an own-goal, Barca's players sprinted the Brazilian following his heroics.

It is something that Arsenal could have so desperately done with only a day before on home soil, unable to source a piece of magic to break down the PSG blockade.

Behind such thinking is a dual meaning - either one of Mikel Arteta's current stars was required to come up with the good, or perhaps even Raphinha could have been there himself to do it.

, now amid a season he leads European charts with 30 goals and 23 assists in all competitions, he continues to be a part of rumours.

The Gunners desperately need reinforcements in the forward line ahead of the summer transfer windo, and the 28-year-old .

Speaking lately about rival interest from Saudi Arabia, he said: "Someone sent me news of the offer from Saudi Arabia, and honestly, I was very surprised because the numbers are very, very high. Honestly, if I had received this offer last year, I think I would have gone.

"At that time, I was in a bit of a psychological breakdown, and this offer would solve everything in my life, my wife’s life, and my family’s life. It was an amount of money that would change our lives completely.

"Anyone who says he won’t go is lying, because it’s impossible to see numbers of this magnitude and not think that this offer will change your life, and that you might go.

"But I was thinking that I had a lot to offer here in Europe, I still had a lot to offer this club, and I still had a great opportunity to continue representing the national team. This is what made me close my ears a little to money, and open my mind more to my dreams."

Meanwhile, Raphinha's goal against Inter sends a brutal reminder to Arsenal of just how desperately they need new faces in attack.