For the first time since the 2016/17 season, Arsenal will hear the Champions League anthem when they get their group campaign underway against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.
It was on 7 March 2017 that a 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich contributed to a 10-2 loss on aggregate in the round of 16. Mikel Arteta had only just retired as a player, Bukayo Saka was nine months away from making his debut for the Under-18s, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba didn’t have contracts and Kai Havertz, who seems to have been around forever, was less than five months into his senior career.
A whole lot has changed since then and Arsenal will be keen to set the record straight when Eredivisie leaders PSV head to the Emirates. These two met in last season’s Europa League group stage, each picking up a victory.
Here’s all you need to know about this one.
Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (Last Five Games)
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
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United Kingdom |
discovery+, TNT Sports Ultimate, TNT Sports 1 |
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United States |
Paramount+, ViX |
|
Canada |
DAZN |
Gabriel Martinelli tweaked his hamstring at the weekend and is expected to be replaced by Leandro Trossard, who took his place and scored the winner against Everton.
Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber and Mohamed Elneny are all confirmed absentees, with the real decision potentially coming in goal – does Mikel Arteta stick with David Raya after replacing Aaron Ramsdale at the weekend or does the Englishman come back into the starting lineup.
Arsenal predicted lineup (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Odegaard, Vieira; Saka, Jesus, Trossard
PSV lost forward Noa Lang to injury at the weekend so expect Hirving Lozano to made his first start for the Dutch side since his return from Napoli.
Like Arsenal, PSV also have three players certain to miss out, with defenders Armando Obispo, Fredrik Oppegard and Mauro Junior all sidelined. Armel Bella-Kotchap will be a familiar face in defence after joining from Southampton towards the end of the summer transfer window.
PSV Eindhoven predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Benitez; Teze, Ramalho, Bella-Kotchap, Dest; Schouten, Veerman; Bakayoko, Saibari, Lozano; De Jong
These two sides are feeling good about themselves right now. Neither side has lost a game this season and both will be fancying their chances of getting out of Group B, which also includes Lens and Sevilla.
While Arsenal haven’t hit their dazzling attacking best, they have routinely found a way to win games, and their cause may be boosted by the return of Gabriel Jesus, who is back from a knee injury and will hope to make his comeback one to remember.
Expect a fun game, but Arsenal should have enough about them to get a positive result.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 PSV Eindhoven
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