- Arsenal and PSG face off in a crucial Champions League semi-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium
- PSG remain winless against Arsenal in previous meetings, recording three draws and two losses
- Key absences for Arsenal include Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Calafiori, Jesus, and Tomiyasu, while PSG will rely heavily on Dembele and Kvaratskhelia
Key Takeaways:
An exciting clash awaits between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals. The match will take place tonight at the Emirates Stadium in London, refereeed by Slavko Vincic.
The two teams have unfinished business. They faced each other earlier this season in the group stage of the tournament. That match was also played at the Emirates in London, where Arsenal won 2-0. However, both sides are now in very different moods and conditions, so a repeat of that game is unlikely. Moreover, the stakes are much higher this time, and the fact that the tie is decided over two legs will also influence the behaviour of both teams.
This will actually be the sixth meeting between the two sides in history, with PSG still looking for their first victory – three draws and two defeats so far. It remains to be seen whether the Parisians can change that tonight, as an away win would carry huge significance in a knockout tie.
Unbeaten against PSG ✅
Will Arsenal extend their record? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/pvvBGzysXx
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) April 28, 2025
Another interesting aspect is that this will be a battle between two Spanish managers who favour attractive, attacking football. Mikel Arteta and Luis Enrique are good friends, but tonight they will surely set their friendship aside in their pursuit of victory.
In their recent matches, Arsenal recorded two draws against Crystal Palace and Brentford, along with three wins – over Ipswich and twice over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. The Gunners will be without injured players Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Jesus, and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Thomas Partey is suspended, while Jorginho remains a doubt. Key roles are expected to be played by Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Declan Rice.
PSG have shown some inconsistency recently. Although they have secured the Ligue 1 title, they suffered a defeat to Nice, drew with Nantes, and beat Le Havre, as well as recording a win and a loss against Aston Villa in the Champions League. Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are expected to be the key figures in PSG’s attack.