Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Dachbet
With all eyes falling on north London, Arsenal will welcome PSG to the Etihad for their Champions League semi-final showdown on Tuesday night.
Arsenal
Starting with the hosts, with their Premier League title dreams long since going up in smoke, it is no secret that Arsenal have firmly placed all of their eggs in the European basket. Making real history earlier in the month as they secured a famous 5-1 aggregate win against Spanish giants Real Madrid, Mikel Arteta became just the second Arsenal manager to guide the Gunners to a Champions League semi-final spot. Although Tuesday’s hosts might have been forced to settle for a 2-2 stalemate against Crystal Palace last week, Arteta’s side have gained a fearsome reputation for their success on home soil. Including a 2-0 win when they welcomed PSG to north London for a group stage showdown on October 1st, Arsenal have not suffered a single Champions League defeat at the Emirates since March 2017.
Arsenal Team News
All still dealing with respective long-term injury issues, Arsenal will once again be without the trio of Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Jesus and defensive talisman Gabriel. Likewise, Kai Havertz will not feature over the remainder of the season after sustaining a hamstring injury back in February.
Settling for a spot on the bench against Crystal Palace last week, England international Bukayo Saka will certainly be handed a full recall. Notching a quartet of Champions League goals this season, Declan Rice will once again be partnered alongside Thomas Partey.
PSG
As for the visitors, while PSG might have punched their semi-final ticket in dramatic fashion earlier in the month, Luis Enrique’s side only just avoided what would have been an infamous European collapse. Eventually edging past Aston Villa following a remarkable 5-4 aggregate win, the former Barcelona boss has seen his squad gain plenty of plaudits from across the continent. However, failing to pick up some much-welcomed momentum over the weekend as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at home against domestic rivals Nice, PSG have mustered just a single win from their previous four appearances across all competitions. Likewise, hit with an action-packed 3-2 loss when they travelled to the Midlands on April 15th, Tuesday’s guests have also shown some extended defensive issues. Enrique’s camp have registered just a sole clean sheet across any competition since returning from March’s international break.
PSG Team News
Heading into Tuesday’s trip to north London, PSG have reported a clean bill of health and have no fresh injury concerns. Shockingly electing to go with a full strength side against Nice over the weekend, it will be interesting to see how many alterations Enrique makes.
While French superstar Ousmane Dembele might have failed to find the net in his previous five appearances across all competitions, the former Barcelona ace will play a leading role here. Enjoying what has become a breakout campaign in Paris, 19-year-old Desire Doue will be hoping to keep his spot alongside Dembele in attack.
Key Factors to Consider
- When Arsenal and PSG met for a Champions League group stage showdown on October 1st, the Gunners collected a 2-0 victory in north London.
- Arsenal have not suffered a single Champions League defeat at the Emirates since March 2017.
- The Gunners have recorded just a pair of clean sheets from their last eight consecutive matchups at the Emirates.
- PSG have recorded just a single win from their last four appearances across all competitions.
- Tuesday’s guests have mustered just a single clean sheet from their last nine appearances across all fronts.
Conclusion
Landing an eye-catching 2-0 victory when they welcomed PSG to north London for a group stage showdown back in October, Arsenal will be desperately seeking a repeat performance here. However, while the French giants might have mustered just a single win from their previous four appearances across all competitions, they have gained a reputation for their clinical displays in the final third. In a contest that could prove to be another Champions League thriller, it should be highlighted that PSG have seen seven of their last eight showdowns finish with both teams finding the net.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Dachbet
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