History turns a new page with Arsenal or PSG?

If Arsenal make good use of set pieces, they can make the difference against PSG.

When Arsenal host Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates in the early hours of April 30, in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, both clubs will be desperate to end their drought of European glory.

Neither PSG nor Arsenal have ever won the competition, only reaching the final once and losing bitterly. Compared to other European giants, these two teams are often underdogs in the Champions League. However, this season has seen a significant improvement in both the skill and expertise of both clubs.

The two teams are different now.

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal came into the game full of confidence, having taken down European football's icon Real Madrid with two incredible performances. After a 3-0 first-leg win in London, the Gunners marched into the Bernabeu and silenced the Spanish giants 2-1, completing a convincing 5-1 aggregate victory.

Despite the absence of a traditional striker and the key centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, Arsenal proudly wore the underdog role - and ripped it apart spectacularly. For the third time in their history and the first time since 2009, the north Londoners dared to dream big in the semi-finals.

Arteta’s side have carried the momentum: they are unbeaten in eight Champions League games – their longest run since 2005/06 – and unbeaten in 12 in all competitions. But their weaknesses remain.

The habit of not being able to finish off a game was resurrected in last week's unfortunate 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, giving Liverpool the chance to win the Premier League this season. On the other side of the field, PSG come to the Emirates on the back of victories over Premier League representatives.

Luis Enrique's young, dynamic squad overcame Liverpool and Aston Villa to reach the semi-finals. Domestically, PSG's aura has wavered somewhat. Despite winning Ligue 1 early, "Les Parisiens" struggled to beat Le Havre 2-1, drew 1-1 with Nantes and surprisingly lost 1-3 at home to Nice last weekend, ending their unbeaten run.

Enrique can now focus on Europe, though, having scored in 18 consecutive away games in all competitions. However, their most recent trip to the Emirates ended in disappointment, losing 2-0.

Arsenal and PSG are a well-matched match.

However, PSG's big advantage is their impressive form in Europe since the beginning of 2025. It is not easy to defeat both Aston Villa and Liverpool in the knockout stages. Coach Enrique and his students have shown their mettle whether they have to play at Villa Park or Anfield. They have the right to be confident in their away trip to Emirates.

Equal opportunity

Arsenal's midfield is Arteta's biggest headache. Thomas Partey, suspended after a yellow card at the Bernabeu, joins a long list of absentees including Gabriel (hamstring), Kai Havertz (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Gabriel Jesus (cruciate ligament) and Jorginho (chest).

Declan Rice is likely to drop into a holding midfield role, while Mikel Merino, who is nursing a minor injury, is expected to take up the left-sided role if fit. Ben White (knee) could also feature, but Riccardo Calafiori (knee) is doubtful.

PSG, on the other hand, have a healthy squad. Enrique is expected to field a similar line-up to the one that played against Nice, with Bradley Barcola competing with Desire Doue for a starting spot. Ousmane Dembele, who has 44 goals this season (32 goals, 12 assists), remains a key figure, despite the Frenchman going six games without a goal in Ligue 1 and Europe.

In fact, experts say that the chances of reaching the final with PSG and Arsenal are equal, and everything can be decided by just small details. Regardless of whether Arsenal or PSG reach the Champions League final, the threshold of history is waiting for them.

Source: https://znews.vn/lich-su-sang-trang-voi-arsenal-hay-psg-post1549666.html