Arsenal will end their six-and-a-half-year wait to play in the UEFA Champions League when they take on PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates.
Arsenal fans have been drooling over the prospect of listening to the UEFA Champions League anthem played at the Emirates when they face PSV Eindhoven. They are all set to welcome the continental competition after a long six-and-a-half-year wait. Mikel Arteta, of all people, will be buzzing to get going here as he has worked very hard to get the club back among the continental elites.
Arsenal had to work hard to finish second, which landed an automatic spot in the Champions League group stages. The Gunners lost out on the Premier League title last term, but a return to the Champions League somewhat makes up for that loss.
That Trossard goal 🤩 pic.twitter.com/AzESwiiIG6
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 18, 2023
The Gunners defeated Everton in a gritty encounter at Goodison Park this past weekend. Arsenal will now begin their Champions League journey in a confident mood against PSV Eindhoven. They remain unbeaten since the season started, having won four of their five Premier League games so far.
PSV Eindhoven had a tricky route into the Champions League group stages as they had to go through a two-legged play-off against Rangers. Losing to the Scottish giants last season in the same fixture proved disappointing. They exacted revenge on their rivals this time and got through after an emphatic win over two legs.
Peter Bosz will hope his side repeats the trick against Arsenal. PSV Eindhoven met the Gunners in last season’s Europa League group stages and came out with nothing at the Emirates. They did manage a good win in Eindhoven, and the manager will hope for a similar performance on Wednesday.
PSV Eindhoven are on an incredible 26-game unbeaten run, and Bosz will want his side to continue that ahead of the trip to the Emirates. The Dutch side have some ambitions heading into this competition for the first time since the 2018/19 season.
Team News & Tactics
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta will have to make do without Gabriel Martinelli for a few weeks after the Brazilian tweaked his hamstring against Everton. His replacement in the game, Leandro Trossard, more than made up with the winning goal and is now set to start against PSV on the left wing.
The Arsenal.
Our 2023/24 Men's Squad pic.twitter.com/IPCcNJ3OCV
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 18, 2023
The Arsenal lineup on Wednesday could have some more changes from the weekend, as Arteta could bring Aaron Ramsdale back in goal. The manager chose to play David Raya against Everton, which has since attracted plenty of attention from the media.
With the Tottenham game on the horizon, Arteta will aim to give some of his key stars rest and may see a raft of substitutions early in the second half. Players like Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White could do with 60 minutes in this game and then sit down on the bench.
Kai Havertz is another name Arteta could bring back into the lineup at the expense of the impressive Fabio Vieira. The manager has the option to shuffle the pack up front. He could bring Gabriel Jesus to replace Eddie Nketiah, although the latter is likely to play a big part as a second-half substitute.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Trossard
PSV Eindhoven
PSV Eindhoven endured another summer window where the drain of their best players continued. Yet, they have sufficiently replaced them with quality additions. Their 22-man squad for the Arsenal clash includes new arrivals Armel Bella-Kotchap and Hirving Lozano.
Time to travel ✈️#ARSPSV #UCL pic.twitter.com/fbr2QQSwyt
— PSV (@PSV) September 19, 2023
Peter Bosz will have to make do without three notable absentees Armando Obispo, Fredrik Oppegard, and Mauro Junior. On loan, Southampton defender Bella-Kotchap made his debut for PSV against NEC Nijmegen and will keep his place in central defence alongside Andre Ramalho.
Bosz will shake up the full-back positions, shifting Sergino Dest to left-back and will bring Jordan Teze at right-back. The manager gave some of his key players sufficient rest at the weekend, anticipating selection changes for the Arsenal clash.
Another change the manager could ponder is on the left wing, with Lozano likely to replace Noah Lang. Others in the attacking and central midfield positions will remain intact from the weekend’s starting lineup, with Luuk de Jong leading the line for PSV.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Benitez; Teze, Ramalho, Bella-Kotchap, Dest; Schouten, Veerman; Bakayoko, Saibari, Lozano, De Jong
Key Stats
- Arsenal have only scored three goals against PSV Eindhoven in four home matches against them in European competition.
- Arsenal have only kept one clean sheet in their last 11 games at the Emirates.
- Arsenal are unbeaten since the start of the current season.
- PSV Eindhoven are unbeaten in 26 games across all competition heading to the Emirates.
- PSV Eindhoven have scored at least two goals in each of their last eight games in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Martin Odegaard
It is a momentous occasion for the Arsenal skipper to take his side back into the UEFA Champions League, and he would like to put on a big performance for the Emirates crowd. Like every other player in this side, Odegaard has worked his socks off to reach here and will want to make the best of the opportunity.
Odegaard remains one of Arsenal’s key stars and a trusted lieutenant for Arteta. He will have to assume an everpresent role in this side, but a great performance here would boost his confidence ahead of the big game at the weekend against arch-rivals Tottenham.
Prediction
Arsenal 3-1 PSV Eindhoven
Arteta will hope to make light work of PSV Eindhoven and get a comfortable win in the bag. In terms of quality, Arsenal are miles ahead of their opponents, and that will prove to be the difference at the Emirates when they clash.
The Gunners have been vulnerable about conceding a goal at the Emirates for a very long time, and PSV Eindhoven have the quality to hurt them in that regard. However, the quality in Arsenal’s midfield and the attack will ensure they score plenty of goals and get the first three points under their belt.
I hope Arsenal field their strongest squad the first half and then make changes after half time to rest players for the Tottenham game, depending on the first half result and play against the 26 game unbeatable PSV. Not an easy game. We have to start quick out the blocks and try and dictate the game.