AFCON 2025
Arsenal are in a difficult but not insurmountable position as they look to beat PSG to the Champions League final ticket on Wednesday. The Gunners are currently on a poor run of form in the League, and last weekend’s home loss to Bournemouth casts a shadow of doubt on Mikel Arteta’s men’s ability to overturn the one-nil loss at the Emirates last week.
However, having lost out on the Premier League to Liverpool, the Champions League is Arsenal’s only realistic chance of winning a title this season, and the Gunners will fight tooth and nail in an attempt to salvage their season.
Paris Saint-Germain are the favorites to win based on the first leg result, but the Gunners have what it takes to hurt Les Parisiens, who will come into the game on the back of a loss to Strasbourg in the Ligue 1 over the weekend.
1. Arsenal’s resilience and away form
The Gunners have proven tough to beat away from home in the Champions League this season. Arsenal stopped Real Madrid from doing the “Remontada” as they defeated the defending Champions 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu and 5-1 on aggregate to send them out of the competition. Mikel Arteta’s men also thrashed PSV 7-1 in the first leg of the second round, which proves they can be devastating on the road. The Gunners have won their last four Champions League away fixtures, with victories against Girona, Sporting Lisbon, PSV, and Real Madrid. Arsenal will look to draw inspiration from these wins as to look to qualify for the final ahead of PSG.
2. Ousmane’s potential absence
The French winger is a doubt for the clash against Arsenal. Dembele, the match winner in the first leg, was substituted in the 70th minute for a hamstring injury. Although the former Barcelona winger has reportedly returned to training, he is likely not to be at his best on Wednesday night. Thomas Partey will return to the squad, and the Ghanaian midfielder will be saddled with the responsibility of tracking the runs of Ousmane Dembele in and around the half spaces. Partey’s return also provides Arsenal with solidity in midfield, defensive cover, and an opportunity for Declan Rice to join other attackers in offense.
3. PSG’s vulnerability
Luis Enrique’s men play exciting football and are quite solid in all phases of play. However, PSG are quite vulnerable in defense, and Arsenal will look to explore the weakness via set pieces. Declan Rice scored from free-kicks against Real Madrid en route to knocking out the Champions League competition. Arsenal will once again rely on the English midfielder, Mikel Merino, and William Saliba to get on to crosses into PSG’s box.
