Alan Shearer Exclusive: PSG are Europe's best but Arsenal can dog their way to glory

Wednesday's game between Bayern and PSG was never going to be as good as the first leg but I thought Paris St Germain were outstanding in the second leg in Germany. In every single position, they defended unbelievably well. Their work rate, their defensive togetherness, and the goal they scored after three minutes was just outrageous.

PSG deserved to go through. It's set up for what should be a great final. 

If there's one team that can dog it out in a final, it is Arsenal. They are superb defensively but they're playing against a team that has probably been the best in Europe for a while. Obviously, PSG won it last year, and the vast majority of players are still there. 

Their midfield is outstanding, obviously the three forwards are world class, and in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia they've probably got one of, if not the best, player in Europe. PSG are the favourites because they've been there, done it and they know how to win.

But Arsenal can definitely win it in a one-off game. They are four games away from history - three in the Premier League and one in the Champions League final. They can do it, it'd be incredibly difficult, but if there's one team in Europe that could do it, it's Arsenal. 

Rice must win major trophy to be midfield great 

For Declan Rice to be compared to the likes of Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes, the Arsenal man will have to win a major trophy. That's what those guys did. Gerrard didn't lift the Premier League, but he won the Champions League. 

Rice is an outstanding player, and he was brilliant against Atletico. It was great to watch him driving his team on. But to be mentioned in those names, then I think he'll have to win something major. 

Beat West Ham and Arsenal will be champions 

We are all assuming that Man City are going to win all of their games but that may not be the case, because they've got a couple of tough ones, notably Bournemouth away. The toughest league fixture for Arsenal is going to be this weekend against West Ham. 

I sense a different vibe from Arsenal now, more confidence and more energy from players and fans. If they win this weekend at West Ham, the title race is pretty much done and the Premier League trophy will be going to the Emirates. 

I was surprised Man City dropped points to Everton on Monday. I felt that when they went 1-0 up, City didn't know whether to push on and get two or sit and protect. Once they conceded, there was a surge from Everton that's difficult to stop with those fans behind you. 

Players will be Arsenal legends if they do double 

The great Arsene Wenger didn't win the Champions League, so if Arsenal can do it in the same season as winning the Premier League, it would be remarkable. The players and staff are on the brink of history.  

If they could take one, they'd probably take the Premier League, but they're four games away from creating history. So, they're up there with the very, very best players that have played for Arsenal, and will be club legends forever if they can win the double this season. 

West Ham coud struggle to come straight back up 

I think if West Ham do go down, then I think it'll be incredibly tough for them to come back up. It was a terrible few days for West Ham with how they were beaten at Brentford and then seeing Tottenham produce probably their best performance of the season to beat Aston Villa. Connor Gallagher was outstanding for Spurs. 

A couple of weeks ago, I thought Spurs would be releagted, because I just didn't see anything in their performances, but their display at Aston Villa was a huge statement.

It was a massive result for Spurs. The momentum and the belief that will give them means I can see them staying up now. 

Liverpool must challenge for title next season 

Liverpool have been really, really poor. The big thing for me is defensively how open they've been, how many errors they've been making. That's both as a team and individually, right across the back four and in midfield.

There's probably only Szobozslai and maybe Ekitike who can come out of this season with any credit for Liverpool. The rest of them have been really disappointing their very high standards. 

Next season, they're going to have to challenge for the title, but it's pretty clear they need to spend again, and pretty big, in several positions. Their recruitment hasn't worked from last summer, 

Wirtz has sort of gone under the radar a bit, and everyone keeps waiting for him to click, and he hasn't yet. But he's not the only one. It's been a really poor season from what they achieved last year, and depending how much they spend, and what recruitment they get in will dictate how they get on next season.

But for Liverpool's standards, they'd have to be challenging for the Premier League again.

 It would be incredibly harsh for Man United not to give Carrick the job 

When Michael Carrick took the Man United role he was asked to improve everything, both on and off the pitch, in terms of atmosphere, but more importantly, getting results and getting them into the Champions League. 

He's done that, and he's done it in a good way. He's settled the whole football club down. Nothing surprises me in football, but my belief is that it would be really, really harsh - and I know football is harsh sometimes - but I think it would be really, really harsh if he wasn't given the chance to go again, even if it's a one-year contract with different incentives.  

I want Newcastle to win every remaining game

It was more like it, definitely for Newcastle last weekend. It was for 20 or 25 minutes in the first half anyway. In the second half, they were under huge pressure. The most important thing was the result and they got it. 

Brighton more than played their part in the second half and could have easily gone away with something. The game was only won, really, in the last minute when Harvey Barnes scored, because they were committing so many men forward. A win's a win but Brighton were the better team particularly in the second half. 

Newcastle now need to keep that momentum going until the end of the season. They go to Nottingham Forest at the weekend, which will be tough, because of the run that Forest are on.

Winning is a great habit at whatever stage of the season and because it's been such a disappointing season, I would love for Newcastle to go through to the end now and win every game. It would just settle everything down. 

Howe staying at Newcastle would be right call 

If Eddie Howe stays at Newcastle, it is the right call, because of his success at the club.

It looks as if he wants to stay and it sounds as if the meeting that they had last week went well. I think because of his success, because of his experience, and because of what he's done for Newcastle then, I do think it's the right decision for him to go again. I'm pleased, if that is the case.

Guardiola exit will be huge loss to Man City and Premier League

It'll be a huge loss for the Premier League as well as Man City when Pep Guardiola leaves. There's no doubt he is one of the best in the world.

What he's done for Manchester City, the success that he's brought, not only there, but at all of his clubs, has been amazing. It would take a brave or stupid man to suggest he's not in the top two, along with Sir Alex Ferguson, football managers that we've seen in this country.

Now read Alan's predictions for Premier League matchday 36