Arsenal take on PSV Eindhoven this week aiming to get off to the best possible start in their Champions League last 16 tie.
As the Gunners finished in the automatic qualification places in the League Phase, this will be their first European game since January 29.
That allowed them to sit out of the play-off round that saw Manchester City knocked out, before they were then drawn against PSV.
The Dutch side impressively eliminated Juventus to reach the knockout stages and now they will take on Mikel Arteta’s side for a place in the quarter-finals.
It would be considered a good time to play Arsenal too, as they have not scored in or won either of their last two games as injuries catch up.
The winner of this tie will face one of Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid and coming out on top in the first leg will put one side in pole position to reach the last eight.
PSV vs Arsenal: Making history
Ethan Nwaneri can make some history if he features on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old has stepped up to cover for the injured Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, playing regularly on the wing for Arsenal this season.
And should he play again in the Champions League, he’d become the second-youngest Gunners player ever to appear in a knockout stage game in the competition.
He’d follow in the footsteps of Cesc Fabregas who also did so aged 17.
On top of that, Nwaneri could also emulate Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
The teenager has the chance to become the third English player to start in a Champions League knockout game while under 18 – joining Bellingham and Foden.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their five home matches in European competitions against PSV (W3 D2), the most home games they’ve played against an opponent in European competition without ever losing. Away from home, however, they’re winless in their last four against the Dutch side (D2 L2), with their only win away to them coming in September 2002 (4-0 in the UEFA Champions League).
- This will be the second time Arsenal have faced PSV in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, after being eliminated by the Dutch side in the Last 16 in 2006-07 (lost 0-1 away, drew 1-1 at home).
PSV vs Arsenal: Team news
PSV have some injuries heading into this game as Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi and Esmir Bajraktarevic are expected to miss out.
Mauro Junior could also be sidelined while former Arsenal striker Lucas Perez has just signed on a free and could come back to haunt his old club.
As for the Gunners, they’re injuries have begun to cause some real problems.
They have been struggling in front of goal without Saka, Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz who are all sidelined with issues.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is also out with a long-term problem, but Myles Lewis-Skelly will return from the suspension that kept him out last week.
- Arsenal have only lost one of their last 14 games against Dutch sides in the UEFA Champions League (0-1 v PSV in 2007), although more than half of those matches have ended level (W5 D8 L1).
- Arsenal have faced Peter Bosz’s PSV side twice previously in the UEFA Champions League, beating them 4-0 at the Emirates and drawing 1-1 away in the 2023-24 group stage.
- Arsenal have won each of their last four games in the UEFA Champions League, scoring 13 goals and only conceding twice in the process. The last time they had a five-game win streak in a single edition was in 2005-06 (5), which was when they registered their best ever finish in the competition (runners-up).
PSV vs Arsenal: What has been said?
Arsenal manager Arteta has called on fans to keep believing despite two damaging results in a row leading up to this game.
He said: “Stay with them [the squad]. They’re an absolute joy to work with. They feel stretched, they feel like they are giving everything they possibly can.
“The way they behave and the way they want it. So be with them, because that’s what we all need right now.”
On taking on PSV, the Gunners boss added: “We are very much looking forward to it. It’s a competition we’ve performed tremendously well in this season.
“We fought hard to get into this position. And now, as we enter the knockout stages, the building starts now.”
- Arsenal have been ahead on the scoreboard for 57% of their minutes played in the UEFA Champions League this season; the highest percentage of any side. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta’s side have trailed for just 65 of their 770 minutes of match time in the competition this term (8%).
- PSV’s Luuk de Jong could make his 50th UEFA Champions League appearance in this game (currently on 49). He’d be just the fifth Dutch striker to reach this milestone in the competition, after Ruud van Nistelrooij (73), Patrick Kluivert (71), Roy Makaay (61) and Robin van Persie (59).
PSV vs Arsenal: talkSPORT coverage
This Champions League clash will take place on Tuesday, March 4.
Kick-off at the Philips Stadion is scheduled for 8pm.
talkSPORT will have live coverage of all the action.
Commentary will come from Sam Matterface and Scott Minto.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
The game will also be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+.