It’s crunch time in Paris on Wednesday (8pm UK) as we head to the French capital looking to overcome a 1-0 first-leg deficit to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years.
Ousamane Dembele’s early goal was enough for the Parisians to earn their first victory in six attempts against us, and give them the upper hand going into the return fixture, held in the city that hosted our only previous trip to the final back in 2006.
We’re hoping to return to London with much happier memories this time around, as we look to make club history by clinching a fifth successive European away victory, and more importantly, book our spot in the showpiece in Munich against Inter Milan on May 31.
Second successive setback
Having won just one of their first five games in this season’s Champions League, PSG have since won eight of their next 10 matches including the first leg at Emirates Stadium last week. But like us, their domestic form has dipped in recent weeks with one eye on trying to secure a first-ever European Cup success, won just two of their last six games across all competitions.
Saturday saw them suffer back-to-back defeats in Ligue 1 for the first time in two years when Strasbourg beat them 2-1. Having wrapped the title up weeks ago, Luis Enrique opted to rest 10 players who started against us, with only Joao Neves retaining his place in a youthful starting line-up, which saw four players born in 2006 or later start - a first in Europe’s top five leagues.
But the kids couldn’t prevent PSG’s record 39-match unbeaten away run coming to an end at the hands of Strasbourg, as an own goal from Lucas Hernandez was added to by Felix Lemarechal, before Bradley Barcola pulled one back.
What the managers say
Arteta: "We are a win away from being the Champions League semi-final, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world against a great opponent - it doesn't get much better than that. We are here to make history, and we have a big opportunity tomorrow.
"We bring a result that gives us so much clarity about what we have to do. A lot of learning from the first leg as well, and how small the margins are between the two teams. The result, in my opinion, should have been very different to that one. So tomorrow, another opportunity to prove that and earn the right to be in the final."
Enrique: "We're here because we deserve to be, we won the first game and tomorrow's objective is to win the second. There are a lot of potential keys, but I think we have to show the confidence that our supporters have shown us, in terms of effort and emotional intelligence.
“There will be details we can control. We're going to have to stay true to the ideas we've had so far. We're going to go into this match and build on our strengths. If things don't go our way, we'll be competitive enough to turn things around."
Team news
After missing the weekend’s loss against Bournemouth, Jurrien Timber returned to training this week and will be assessed to see if he can play a part, as did Riccardo Calafiori who could come into Mikel Arteta’s thoughts for the first time in over a month following a knee problem.
Thomas Partey is available again after missing the first leg through suspension, as is Neto who was unable to face his parent club on the weekend. Jorginho is still out with his abdominal issue, but Kai Havertz, Gabriel (hamstrings), Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knees) are still long-term casualties.
Enrique was handed a big boost by Dembele returning to training at the start of this week after being forced off at Emirates Stadium with a hamstring injury.
Presnel Kimpembe will be out for a few weeks with a foot problem, while Lee Kang-in was forced off at half-time of Saturday’s defeat and is a doubt for the home leg.
Talking tactics
Adrian Clarke: Facing Luis Enrique’s fluid 4-3-3, we need to slow down their skilful and exceptionally fast forward line. I expect us to be aggressive and touch-tight, but for periods we will also have to suffer by putting up a wall of resistance behind the ball. From those scenarios, our counter-attacking quality has to be at its best.
With Nuno Mendes more restrained than usual at left-back, I would envisage PSG’s right-hand side being targeted on those breakaways, especially if Achraf Hakimi is caught in advanced areas. Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli both drew fine saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma when raiding into empty space down that wing.
If Mikel Merino reverts to centre forward, he will give us a physical outlet, so do not be surprised if we go a touch more direct, like we did at Real Madrid. That could free up Declan Rice to play as a box-to-box midfielder, adding power and dynamism inside the middle third too. He is capable of dragging a fabulous PSG midfield towards their own goal and creating chaos inside the home side’s half.
Every time we get a corner or wide free-kick, there will be nerves among the home players and supporters. In Ligue 1, they have conceded 10 set-piece goals, almost a third of their total concessions, and three more in Europe, which could have been four if not for Merino’s disallowed strike in the first leg.
Facts and stats
We have progressed from just two of our previous 11 knockout ties in the Champions League having lost the first leg (v Porto in the last 16 on both occasions in 2009/10 & 2023/24).
PSG have lost all three of their semi-final games on home soil in the Champions League (0-1 v Milan in 1994/95, 1-2 v Man City in 2020/21, 0-1 v Borussia Dortmund in 2023/24).
Only two teams have ever reached the Champions League final after losing the first leg of their semi-final tie at home, with Ajax overcoming Panathinaikos in 1995/96, and Tottenham doing the same against Ajax in 2018/19.
PSG have progressed from eight of their previous 12 Champions League knockout ties having won the first leg, and from five of the six when winning the first leg away from home.
PSG have won three of their last four Champions League home games, netting 14 goals across those three victories. However, they’ve lost twice at Parc des Princes this season against Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, only losing three at home in the same campaign in 2020/21.
PSG have won four of their six games against English sides in the Champions League (L2), as many as in their previous 17.
Bukayo Saka has had a hand in 15 goals across his Champions League appearances (9 goals, 6 assists), scoring in each of his last two away games. Only Robert Pires has scored in three successive away Champions League appearances for us back in 2003/04.
Ousmane Dembele’s winner in the first leg was his eighth goal in Europe this season – only Zlatan Ibrahimovic has netted more in a single campaign for PSG (10 in 2013/14).
Joao Neves has made 51 tackles in this season’s Champions League, the most by a midfielder since Arturo Vidal in 2014/15 (52). He’s applied 756 high pressures to opponents in 2024/25, over 100 more than any other player.
Match officials
German referee Felix Zwayer has been handed control of this game, which is his sixth in the Champions League this season. In those, he has issued four red cards, including one in each of his last three matches. He was a referee at Euro 2024, including England’s semi-final win over the Netherlands.
He has previously handled us three times, a 2-2 draw against CSKA Moscow in 2018 in the Europa League, and our 1-0 success at Olympiakos in the same competition two years later. He also oversaw our 4-0 victory against PSV Eindhoven back in September 2023 which marked our return to the Champions League after a six-year absence.
Referee: Felix Zwayer
Assistants: Robert Kempter, Christian Dietz
Fourth official: Harm Osmers
VAR: Bastian Dankert
Assistant VAR: Benjamin Brand
Previous trips to Paris
We have faced PSG at the Parc des Princes on two occasions, with both matches ending in 1-1 draws. In March 1994, we visited the French capital for another semi-final, this time in the Cup-Winners’ Cup and Ian Wright opened the scoring before David Ginola equalised.
Then in September 2016, we played our only previous Champions League match at the venue and left with a point from our group stage clash when Alexis Sanchez cancelled out Edinson Cavani’s opener.
In fact, we have lost just one of our nine away games in the competition against French sides, winning six times.
Live coverage
Tune into Arsenal.com and the official app from an hour before kick-off for Live From N5, with Nicole Holliday and Jeremie Aliadiere in the studio preparing you for the big game.
Frimmy gives us a taste of the Parisian life with his away-day diary, and gets the thoughts of our supporters who have travelled to the French capital. There will be a round of Higher or Lower featuring players who have played for both sides, while our studio audience will also be tested on their memories of our French connections.
Then from kick-off, Dan Roebuck will be joined by Adrian Clarke to talk you through all the action from the Parc des Princes, as we hope they’ll commentate on another European night to remember.
You can also find out which broadcasters are showing the action live wherever you are in the world.
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