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PSG vs Arsenal: Champions League semi-final 2nd leg preview

By on May 6, 2025

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Arsenal will need to produce something special when they take on Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.

After thrashing Real Madrid 5-1 in the quarter-finals, Arsenal went into the semi final first leg against PSG at the Emirates Stadium full of confidence. However, they were stunned as the Ligue 1 champions opened the scoring inside the first four minutes when Ousmane Dembele’s effort went in off the post.

Arsenal struggled to recover and PSG were dominant in the opening quarter of the match. Thankfully, the Gunners regrouped and had an excellent chance to equalise when Gabriel Martinelli was put through by Myles Lewis-Skelly but the Brazilian was denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The Italian stopped then made a stunning save from a low Leandro Trossard effort early in the second half while David Raya also produced a moment of magic to deny PSG a second goal. Arsenal controlled most of the second period and created some decent openings but failed to find a way through a well organised PSG outfit so the French side secured a vital 1-0 first leg lead in North London.

It was a hugely disappointing result for Arsenal as they didn’t play at their best and suffered from conceding such an early goal. It gave PSG something to protect and once again the Gunners struggled to be clinical in front of goal without a recognised striker. Thomas Partey’s absence in midfield was also badly felt and you have the feeling the Ghanaian would have not left Dembele free on the edge of the box to fire home the only goal of the game.

Struggles

It means Arsenal will now need to turn things around in Paris on Wednesday night if they want to reach the Champions League final. Arsenal fans are desperate to book their flights to Munich and buy UEFA Champions League final tickets but as things stand it’s PSG who are in the driving seat to meet wither Barcelona or Inter Milan on the 31st May.

The Gunners have struggled domestically lately and they are still not guaranteed of Champions League qualification for next season. Poor draws at home to Brentford and Crystal Palace recently have seen Arsenal’s lead in second spot evaporate.

On Saturday evening, Mikel Arteta’s men let slip a 1-0 lead at home to Bournemouth with Evanilson scoring a controversial winner in the second half for the visitors. Replays showed the ball appeared to go in off the strikers elbow but the VAR felt it wasn’t clear enough to overturn the referees decision.

The defeat has left Arsenal sitting just just three points above third-placed Man City, while sixth placed Nottingham Forest are just six points behind with three games remaining. With tough games to come against Liverpool and Newcastle, Arsenal may go into the final game of the season needing to beat Southampton just to finish in the top 5 and secure Champions League qualification.

Conversely, PSG wrapped up the Ligue 1 title weeks ago and were able to rest their key men for Saturday’s 2-1 defeat away to Strasbourg. Luis Enrique’s side will be fresh for the second leg on Wednesday and they’ll be confident of finishing the job on home soil.

How to watch

The game will be broadcast live on TNT Sport at 8pm UK time on Wednesday night. Subscribers can watch along on their TV or via the app on mobile and tablet devices.

Match going supporters can buy Champions League tickets for the game through the clubs or via an online reseller such as Seatsnet.com

Team news

Arsenal continue to nurse a lengthy injury list with as many as eight regulars in danger of missing the crucial second leg. Gabriel Jesus is certainly not available as he’s out until the end of the year following surgery on an ACL injury.

Gabriel Magalhaes is also out for the rest of the season after tearing his hamstring in early April while Takehiro Tomiyasu is another long-term absentee as he needed surgery on a troublesome knee injury that hampered him this season.

Jorginho is facing a race against time to play again this season due to a rib injury that’s kept him out in recent games. Kai Havertz was expected to miss the remainder of the campaign after tearing his hamstring while training in Dubai in February. However, the German has made a swift recovery and is already doing individual training so he could yet play a part in the final games – although the trip to Paris will come too soon.

Riccardo Calafiori has missed the last five weeks with a knee injury that he picked up while playing for Italy but he’s reportedly close to making his comeback. Although it remains to be seen whether he’ll be fit to make the squad on Wednesday.

Jurrien Timber missed Arsenal’s defeat to Bournemouth with a knock and Arteta said after the game he wasn’t confident the Dutchman would recover in time to face PSG. Martin Odegaard was forced off with a knock at the weekend so he’ll also need to be assessed.

PSG will recall their big guns after the likes of Vitinha, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Achraf Hakimi and Fabian Ruiz were rested at the weekend. Dembele will need to be assessed after picking up a hamstring injury in the first leg last week.

Predicted score

This is a huge game for Arsenal and Arteta needs to find a way to turn things around in Paris. The Gunners certainly have the quality to get a result, as they showed in both legs against Real Madrid in the previous round, but PSG have been so impressive in the knockout stages.

They were sensational in their home leg of the last-16 tie against Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-1 at the Parc des Princes in the quarters, so it’s going to be difficult for Arsenal to get the win they need on Wednesday night.

Partey’s return should provide some much needed solidity in midfield and it will also free Mikel Merino to take up his role up front. However, they need some magic from the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka. This is their chance to shine and make a real statement on the biggest stage of all.

Dembele will be a huge miss for PSG if he’s ruled out, and it could have the same affect on the game as Partey’s absence had in the first leg. I fancy Arsenal to get on the scoresheet at least once in Paris but the key will be keeping the hosts out at the other end.

We’re in for a tense night at the Parc des Prince and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it go to extra time. PSG 1-2 Arsenal