Champions League: PSG Out to Break Arsenal’s Hearts

PSG vs Arsenal

PSG are one step closer to reaching this year’s Champions League final. After taking a one-goal lead against Arsenal in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last week, Luis Enrique’s men can book their tickets to the Munich Football Arena if they manage to hold on this Wednesday.

​The Parisiens are coming off a 2-1 defeat against Strasbourg last Saturday, but they’re not too worried about it after they won the Ligue 1 title last month. Enrique rotated his squad against Strasbourg, so he’s expected to deploy his best starting XI against the Gunners.

Arsenal are also fresh from a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth. Mikel Arteta’s men are second in the Premier League table with 67 points, and they need a few more points to clinch yet another runner-up finish.

The winner of this semi-final tie will meet the winner between Inter Milan and Barcelona, level at three goals apiece entering the second leg.

 

Talking Points

Dembele questionable for PSG

Ousmane Dembele sustained a hamstring injury during the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last week, and PSG are sweating on his fitness ahead of Wednesday’s rematch. Dembele took the day off against Strasbourg last Saturday, and there’s a chance he’ll play on Wednesday.

Dembele was pictured in first-team training yesterday, which is a huge boost for PSG’s frontline and a nightmare for Arsenal’s backline. The 27-year-old forward has been one of the most productive attackers in Europe this season, with 21 league goals and six assists, leading the Parisiens in scoring. 

Head coach Luis Enrique can start or bring Dembele off the bench. Either way, PSG have enough in their arsenal (pun intended) to beat the Gunners because they still have Bradley Barcola, Goncalo Ramos, Desire Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Barcola is the other player to watch after he scored PSG’s consolation goal against Strasbourg. The 22-year-old winger is the Parisiens’ second-most productive player with 14 league goals and 10 assists this term.

Key midfielder Vitinha and centre-back Willian Pacho were also rested last weekend, so they should have fresh legs in the second leg. 

 

Arsenal receive midfield boost

Arsenal’s midfield received a huge boost recently, as Thomas Partey is available. The Ghanaian international did not play in the first leg for serving his one-match suspension (yellow cards) and was replaced by Mikel Merino in the middle of the park.

The Gunners lacked balance with Partey out because they lacked athleticism and dynamism in midfield during the first leg. Partey returned against Bournemouth and showed zero signs of rust alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. He has four league goals and two assists this term.

Mikel Arteta will continue to miss several key players due to injury, as Jorginho (lung), Kai Havertz (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus (knee), Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), and Riccardo Calafiori (knee) are taking longer to heal. Odegaard appeared to take a slight knock against Bournemouth, but he should be available on Wednesday. Jurrien Timber, on the other hand, is deemed questionable.

 

History

PSG won 1-0 in the first leg last week, as Ousmane Dembele scored the marginal goal in the fourth minute. It was their first victory over Arsenal in six attempts (D3, L2). Their previous two home matches against the Gunners finished with a 1-1 draw (March 1994 and September 2016).

Arsenal have lost their last two visits in France (Rennes in 2019 and Lens in 2023) after going undefeated in their first 13 away matches against French sides across all competitions.

Only two teams have ever reached the Champions League final after losing the first leg of their semi-final tie at home – Ajax (1995-96) and Tottenham (2018-19). Arsenal never progressed to the next round after losing the first leg at home.

 

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP Champions League 2025 odds expect the hosts to advance to the next round, much to the delight of their home crowd. PSG are at 2.12 odds to win, whereas Arsenal aren’t far behind at 3.02, and a draw is at 3.35 in the 1X2 market.

PSG cannot afford to be gun-shy since they only lead by one goal, so expect Luis Enrique’s men to go all-out this Wednesday. The Parisiens and the Gunners can produce new Champions League 2025 highlights in the second leg, making alternatives like Over 2.50 at 1.66, Over 2.75 at 1.88, and Total Goal 2-3 at 2.04 worth considering. Meanwhile, a Correct Score of 1-0 in favour of the Ligue 1 champions – the result of the first leg – could give you a decent payday of 9.20 your bet.

   

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