Arsenal and PSG engage in a blockbuster battle

Former league-phase foes renew hostilities in the final four, as Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain engage in a blockbuster battle in Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg at the Emirates, both dreaming of finally ending their excruciating waits for European stardom.

Mikel Arteta‘s men outwitted, outfought and out-classed Real Madrid in the quarter-finals to earn a two-legged tussle with the French champions, who ended Aston Villa’s dreams of continental glory in the last eight.

Arsenal

As glass-half-full Real Madrid supporters allowed themselves to get preoccupied with thoughts of a remarkable remontada, Arteta’s Arsenal had one goal in mind; play Carlo Ancelotti‘s men off the park on their own patch and end Los Blancos’ latest reign of European dominance.

With no recognised striker and no Gabriel Magalhaes attacking set-pieces, Arsenal wore a large underdogs sticker for their battle with Los Blancos, but the Gunners defied their absences to make the Champions League semis for just the third time ever, and the first time since 2009.

Indeed, Arteta has overseen a magnificent eight-game unbeaten run in the 2024-25 Champions League – the hosts’ longest such streak since a 12-game sequence in 2005-06 – while they coincidentally enter Tuesday’s game unbeaten in 12 in all competitions, winning six and drawing six.

However, Arsenal’s frequent inability to cling onto leads came back to bite them yet again in Wednesday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Crystal Palace – one that put Liverpool a single point away from title glory – and nine stalemates while leading in the 2024-25 English top flight is more than any other side.

Paris Saint-Germain

PSG do not cower when the British are coming, having taken down two of Arsenal’s Premier League rivals in quick succession.

Arne Slot‘s Liverpool and Unai Emery‘s Aston Villa were both no match for Les Parisiens’ young, vibrant squad over two legs, although a 3-2 second-leg loss to the latter in the quarter-finals – inconsequential as it may have been – proved that the capital giants are not immortal.

PSG can afford to take their eye off the ball domestically with their customary Ligue 1 title already in the bag, though, and by at least managing to hold Nantes to a two-goal stalemate on April 22, 2025 they are now on a sensational 18-game scoring streak away from home in all competitions.

However, Les Parisiens’ attack was stunted in a 2-0 league-phase loss to Arsenal at the Emirates back on October 1, a result that extended Arsenal’s run without defeat against PSG to five matches since their inaugural meeting.

Thomas Partey

Long-serving Arsenal lynchpin Thomas Partey was given an earful by Declan Rice at the Bernabeu, and rightly so, as the Ghana international had just picked up a needless yellow card that rules him out of Tuesday’s first leg through suspension.

Partey’s punishment is especially problematic given that Arteta’s only other true number six – Jorginho – may be out for the season with a chest injury, so Rice will likely have to drop deeper as Mikel Merino starts in the left-eight role.

That scenario is dependent on Merino shaking off an unspecified concern, but the Spaniard is expected to be given the green light to make the squad, and the same can be said of Ben White (knee).

However, Riccardo Calafiori is a much bigger doubt owing to his own knee concern, while Gabriel (hamstring), Kai Havertz (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Gabriel Jesus (ACL) and Jorginho (chest) will watch on helplessly.

Clean bill of health

On the other hand, key to PSG’s progression in Europe has been a clean bill of health, and Enrique is once again expected to have every single player at his disposal for the trip to the Emirates.

The ex-Barcelona boss did not hesitate to go full strength against Nice, and the bulk of that starting XI ought to be retained despite the dissatisfactory result, although Bradley Barcola will be banging on the door to take Desire Doue‘s spot.

An astounding season for Ousmane Dembele has seen the Frenchman register 44 direct goal involvements from 44 matches – 32 of his own and 12 assists – but his powers have waned in recent weeks and he is now without a goal in six straight games across Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

Prediction

Increasingly frail at the back and struggling to get Dembele firing on all cylinders in attack, the first signs of fatigue may now be setting in for PSG, who will also come into the first leg with fewer days rest than their North London counterparts.

Enrique’s men can still be backed to make the net bulge – especially with no Partey acting as the hosts’ midfield screen – but the defensive might of Arsenal was unquestioned against Real Madrid, barring one silly William Saliba mistake.

Arteta’s men are well-equipped to deal with PSG’s rampaging full-backs too, and we can picture the Gunners taking a slender lead to the Parc des Princes, although whether that will suffice for a ticket to the final remains to be seen.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

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