Arsenal vs PSV Preview

• Arsenal to win
• Over 2.5 goals

Arsenal are on the brink of securing their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for a second consecutive season following their record-breaking 7-1 demolition of PSV in the first leg.

The Gunners are expected to cruise through at the Emirates, but with a big Premier League clash against Chelsea looming, Mikel Arteta may rotate his squad.

Meanwhile, PSV face what seems like an impossible mission. After a difficult run of form across all competitions, the Dutch side must pull off one of the greatest comebacks in European football history to overturn a six-goal deficit.

Can Arsenal complete the job with another dominant display, or will PSV restore some pride with a respectable performance? Here’s a full match preview.

Arsenal’s Historic Form and UCL Dominance at the Emirates

Arsenal’s first-leg performance was nothing short of sensational. Their 7-1 thrashing of PSV was the most dominant away win in UCL knockout history, and they now have the chance to break another record—if they score four more goals, they will become the highest-scoring English side across two UCL knockout legs.

With such a commanding advantage, Mikel Arteta may opt to rest key players ahead of their crucial Premier League clash against Chelsea.

However, the Gunners still have plenty to play for, including the chance to win six consecutive UCL matches for the first time since 2005, when they did so under Arsène Wenger.

Their success in this season’s Champions League has been largely built on their imperious home form. Arsenal have won four straight UCL matches at the Emirates without conceding, and if they manage a fifth in a row, they will match the feat last achieved by Chelsea in their 2021/22 title-winning campaign.

With confidence sky-high and history on their side, Arsenal should have little trouble finishing the job.

PSV’s Impossible Task and European Struggles

PSV’s dream of a deep UCL run has turned into a nightmare. Since stunning Juventus in the knockout play-off round, the Dutch side has endured three consecutive defeats, exiting the KNVB Cup, falling behind in the Eredivisie title race, and effectively crashing out of the Champions League.

Although they managed to restore some pride with a league win over the weekend, their hopes of qualification are slim.

To even force extra time, PSV would have to match their biggest-ever UCL win (6-0 vs Zalgiris in 1992/93)—an almost impossible feat against an in-form Arsenal side.

Adding to their struggles is their poor defensive record in Europe. PSV have conceded an average of more than two goals per game across their last 15 UCL away matches while keeping zero clean sheets during that run.

Furthermore, history is against them—no team has overturned a 6+ goal first-leg deficit in European competition since 1979/80.

To make matters worse, PSV have won just four of their 20 European away games against English opposition (W4, D4, L12), making their task even more daunting.

Head-to-Head Record: Arsenal in Full Control

Arsenal have dominated this fixture historically and strengthened their grip with the 7-1 first-leg demolition in the Netherlands.

The Gunners’ defensive strength at home and PSV’s struggles on English soil suggest this match could follow a similar pattern to the first leg. Even with rotation, Arsenal’s squad depth should be more than enough to get the job done.

Acteurs clés à surveiller

Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal)

Arsenal’s captain has plenty of experience against PSV, having faced them more than any other team in his career.

In ten head-to-head meetings, Ødegaard has directly contributed to four goals (three goals, one assist) since the start of last season. Expect him to control the tempo and create chances, whether from the start or off the bench.

Ivan Perišić (PSV)

The former Tottenham man has a poor record against Arsenal, having never beaten them in five previous meetings (D1, L4).

However, he has one UCL goal against the Gunners and could provide a rare spark for PSV’s attack. If the Dutch side is to restore some pride, Perišić may play a key role.

Prediction: Can PSV Salvage Some Pride?

With Arsenal already all but through to the quarter-finals, this match is expected to be a formality. Even if Arteta rotates his squad, the Gunners should still have far too much quality for a PSV side that has been leaking goals in Europe.

PSV’s best hope will be to avoid another humiliating defeat and possibly get on the scoresheet. However, Arsenal’s defensive resilience at the Emirates suggests even that could be a challenge.

Predicted Score: Arsenal 3-0 PSV (Arsenal win 10-1 on aggregate)

Expect Arsenal to cruise through with another professional performance, extending their UCL winning streak while keeping another clean sheet at home.

Pour plus d'informations sur ce jeu, vous pouvez également visiter :
Arsenal vs PSV | UEFA Champions League 2024/25