As Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain prepare for the crucial second leg of their Champions League semifinal clash at the Parc Des Princes, they now know their opponent in the final: Inter awaits the winner on May 31st in Munich. With PSG holding a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first encounter, the pressure is undeniably high for the return leg.
PSG were fortunate in the first leg when VAR disallowed a Mikel Merino goal for Arsenal, highlighting the threat the Gunners pose, especially from set pieces. Playing at home, PSG will benefit from strong crowd support, but with neither club having previously lifted the Champions League trophy, managing the psychological aspect of the match will be paramount.
Below are the key storylines, match viewing information, and more details:
How to Watch PSG vs. Arsenal, Odds
- Date: Wednesday, May 7 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Parc des Princes — Paris, France
- TV: CBS | Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: PSG +109; Draw +263; Arsenal +234
First Leg Recap
The first leg unfolded like a strategic chess match. PSG seized an early lead through Ousmane Dembele just four minutes in and dominated the subsequent 20 minutes before Arsenal`s defense adjusted. Although the Gunners subsequently created superior scoring opportunities, PSG`s early goal proved decisive, preventing Arsenal from bringing the tie back to Paris level.
What the Coaches Are Saying
For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the stakes are immense. While Arteta has guided Arsenal to FA Cup success, achieving a Champions League final appearance after recent near misses in the Premier League title race could be his defining moment as manager. Arteta commented on the significance: “Yeah, one of the most beautiful, for sure. I mean, again, one win away from being in the final. We cannot ask for anything else. Let`s not do the talking [now], let`s do it tomorrow on that pitch at 9pm [CET] when the game starts. Show our best, best, best, best version and win the game.”
To succeed, Arsenal will need a more influential performance from Martin Odegaard, and Arteta will have meticulously prepared his squad for the challenge ahead.
PSG, on their part, have effectively restructured following Kylian Mbappe`s departure to Real Madrid. Under Luis Enrique, the team understands exactly what is required. With Enrique`s birthday the day after the match, a victory offers a chance for a special celebration, but as a manager experienced in high-pressure situations, Enrique won`t allow the occasion to overshadow the task.
Enrique stated: “We`re here because we deserve to be, we won the first game and tomorrow`s objective is to win the second. There are a lot of potential keys, but I think we have to show the confidence that our supporters have shown us, in terms of effort and emotional intelligence. There will be details we can control. We`re going to have to stay true to the ideas we`ve had so far. We`re going to go into this match and build on our strengths. If things don`t go our way, we`ll be competitive enough to turn things around.”
Predicted Lineups
PSG: Ginluigi Donarrumma, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Fabian Ruiz, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia
Arsenal: David Raya, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jakub Kiwior, William Saliba, Ben White, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka
Player to Watch
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG: The dynamism added to this PSG team has largely come from Kvaratskhelia`s arrival from Napoli in the January transfer window. The Georgian attacker seems perfectly suited to Enrique`s system. While his overall stats of four goals and five assists in 22 appearances aren`t staggering, four of those goal contributions have come in the Champions League.
Kvaratskhelia has shown an ability to perform when PSG needs it most, which will be crucial playing at home. Facing Arsenal`s defense, known for strong individual duels, Kvaratskhelia`s dribbling skills could be the key to unlocking the game if he can win his one-on-one battles.
Storyline to Watch
Will the pressure of the treble get to PSG? With Barcelona eliminated by Inter, PSG now stands as the only remaining team with a chance to win the treble. Having already secured the Ligue 1 title and scheduled for the Coupe De France final on May 24th, PSG is potentially just three wins away from this remarkable achievement. However, completing a treble is incredibly challenging. Every team reaching this stage has faced difficulties along the way, and Enrique will be keen to avoid suffering their major disappointment in the Champions League, unlike Barcelona.
While the treble adds pressure, winning the Champions League, a trophy PSG has never won, holds unique significance and perhaps even more importance than the domestic titles. This intensifies the pressure, but pressure, when managed effectively, can lead to brilliant results.
Prediction
PSG is unlikely to score as early as the fourth minute this time. However, Ousmane Dembele is expected to find the net again in the first half, bringing a wave of relief to the home crowd. Arsenal will manage to score, creating tension, but it won`t be enough as PSG adds an insurance goal to secure the win in regular time.
Pick: PSG 2, Arsenal 1
