As visitors are quick to point out, a great deal has shifted since Arsenal last hosted Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium. Seven months constitutes a significant period, as Luis Enrique emphasized, and following their demanding league phase campaign, the French champions have had to `raise their game.` To Vitinha, the difference is `obvious.`
Naturally, they are correct. The PSG side that arrived at the Emirates Stadium on October 1st displayed elegance with the ball but seemed utterly incapable of challenging William Saliba and his defensive partners. Their forward trio collectively managed just one shot, with their best opportunity falling to Achraf Hakimi mere seconds before the 90 minutes concluded. With Ousmane Dembele sidelined and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia not yet having joined from Napoli, there were scant indications that Luis Enrique was assembling one of Europe`s two most fearsome attacks.
Arsenal, too, looked different. The defensive solidity provided by Gabriel, now sidelined until next season with a hamstring injury, alongside William Saliba facilitated play without possession, especially given the suspensions of Thomas Partey and Declan Rice at the time. That particular match was one where the 4-4-2 setup, minus Martin Odegaard, appeared highly effective. While Leandro Trossard is likely the only remaining player from that specific lineup, Odegaard has returned, and Kai Havertz has since departed.
Player personnel has changed. PSG`s potential ceiling has risen, while the consistency of Arsenal`s performance is subject to debate. However, what is almost certain not to change is the way the home side will commence the match from the very beginning.
When CBS Sports asked Mikel Arteta what lessons he would carry from that previous victory into Tuesday evening`s fixture, he stated, “I admired the immediate presence we showed from the outset. Our body language, the intensity, how aggressive we were. We played with genuine belief and determination. When you are facing major opponents, you need to establish that context for the game immediately.”
Arteta was accurate; Arsenal exhibited peak assertiveness. From the initial moments, players like Rice, Saliba, and Jurrien Timber imposed themselves on their counterparts. They engaged in those early duels with force, with Timber notably neutralizing Bradley Barcola almost completely. Arteta`s team attacked and defended collectively as a unit from front to back. Bukayo Saka recorded more tackles than any other player, while Timber and Riccardo Calafiori were equally impactful in PSG`s attacking third as they were in their own.
This collective performance has largely been the narrative of their Champions League campaign. In contrast to Real Madrid, who sometimes appeared as a collection of individuals, Arsenal has performed as a relentlessly well-drilled side. PSG is no longer the defensively lax force seen in their previous superstar-heavy eras, but a team that has come together over mere months will struggle to achieve the level of synchronization Arsenal has cultivated over years.
He added: “I draw many conclusions from the game we played here. We understand their strength as a team and the caliber of their individual players. But we possess similar qualities. At this stage, I believe the fine margins and distinctions between the two teams are small. What truly matters is the mindset, the attitude, and our approach to the game tomorrow.”
This stands in marked contrast to the mood within the PSG camp, even if they adopt a somewhat defensive stance whenever Arsenal`s midfield prowess is mentioned.
This defensiveness is understandable, considering they failed to trouble Arsenal in their last encounter. That defeat in London set a worrying early trajectory for the French champions in the competition, followed by losses to Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich. For a period, it seemed they might not even qualify for the league phase`s top 24. Then came the addition of Kvaratskhelia and the emergence of Dembele as a legitimate contender for top honours. It is difficult to imagine this team being limited to just 0.4 expected goals again.
“There are significant differences,” commented Luis Enrique. “I have re-watched the game from early October. We are performing better now than we did then. In the league phase, we had the most intense group of matches, and now we are in the semifinals. We played games that felt like Champions League finals.”
“It did not put us in a strong position, but it proved to be a positive experience. We had to significantly improve. Now we are a very complete team.”
While PSG`s quality may have risen, they will still find themselves outnumbered on Tuesday. At least, that will be the case if Arteta`s plea to the Emirates crowd is answered. “Bring your boots, bring your shorts, bring your T-shirts, and let`s play every ball together,” he urged the Arsenal supporters.
The previous meeting felt like a surprisingly subdued major league phase match. With six rounds of fixtures still remaining, the immediate value of three points was not fully apparent in the debut year of the Swiss system. Emirates Stadium had anticipated major European nights for many years, but that match didn`t quite feel like one.
In contrast, the remarkable triumph over Real Madrid felt momentous, arguably the most joyous night in the ground`s nearly 20-year history. Or perhaps, the most joyous moment *so far*. Arteta desires more. “We want to achieve something extraordinary,” he stated. “That place needs to be something special, something we haven`t witnessed before. And I genuinely hope everyone who comes to the Emirates tomorrow, and those watching and following us, brings that energy with them.”
“Tomorrow, we also have a tremendous opportunity, as a club and as supporters, to demonstrate our identity and how far we collectively aspire to go.”
In the seven months since these two teams last met, the balance seems to have shifted in PSG`s favour. They arguably possess an improved starting eleven, and they arrive at the semifinal stage without injuries or suspensions. They have altered their identity, but they cannot change who Arsenal are. That identity is a team with the `presence, aggression, and intensity` capable of unsettling any opponent. When they have 57,000 `reserves` in the stands supporting that effort, perhaps the result will be another aspect that remains consistent.
