Arsenal were ruthless against PSV in their last encounter.
Image credit: Livescore
Arsenal is on the brink of securing a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals as they prepare to host PSV Eindhoven for the second leg of their last-16 tie.
After a stunning 7-1 victory in the first leg, Mikel Arteta’s side only needs to avoid a catastrophic collapse to progress.
PSV pulled off a solid win against Juventus in the playoff round, which makes their heavy defeat to Arsenal even more surprising.
Match Overview
Despite their dominant performance in Eindhoven, Arsenal’s recent struggles in the Premier League—evident in their 1-1 draw against Manchester United—show they are not invincible.
Meanwhile, PSV bounced back from their crushing defeat with a 2-1 Eredivisie win over Heerenveen, but their Champions League journey is likely coming to an end.
Key Storylines
- Arsenal’s European Dominance: The Gunners have won their last four Champions League games at home without conceding.
- PSV’s Away Struggles: The Dutch side has gone 15 Champions League away games without a clean sheet.
- Squad Rotation Expected: Arteta may rest key players ahead of a crucial Premier League clash against Chelsea.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Arsenal: With progression all but secured, expect changes in the lineup.
Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Kai Havertz are among those dealing with injuries, while Ben White and Kieran Tierney could get rare starts.
Predicted XI: Neto; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Sterling, Trossard, Tierney.
PSV Eindhoven: Despite the heavy defeat, Peter Bosz is expected to field his strongest XI, with Luuk de Jong leading the attack.
Predicted XI: Benitez; Ledezma, Flamingo, Obispo, Junior; Veerman, Schouten; Bakayoko, Til, Lang; De Jong.
🇺🇸🥹 After being out for nearly 1 year with an ACL injury, Sergino Dest (24) returned for PSV. ❤️
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 10, 2025
He played 23 minutes in the match against Heerenveen. pic.twitter.com/7FOb1RGQ2r
Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 PSV (Arsenal win 8-2 on aggregate)
With little at stake, Arsenal may take a cautious approach, allowing PSV to avoid another embarrassment.
However, the Gunners should comfortably book their place in the last eight.