Preview: PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal – prediction, team news, line ups
The Philips Stadion braces for a Champions League showdown as PSV Eindhoven take on Arsenal in a battle not for points but for pride and a chance to exorcise some recent demons.
Both sides have already punched their tickets to the knockout round, but a sense of unfinished business hangs heavy in the air, particularly after the events of the reverse fixture.
Having suffered a 4-0 beating at the Emirates Stadium, vengeance would be the theme of the park as PSV welcome Arsenal, who are also looking to bounce back from a disappointing domestic result.
Arsenal fans travelling to the Netherlands to witness their side in action can purchase their Champions League tickets from Seatsnet.com at competitive prices.
PSV have demonstrated a flair for a dramatic comeback in recent times, but their last Champions League outing against Sevilla on Matchday five surpassed mere resilience.
Trailing 2-0 to the Europa League champions courtesy of goals from Sergio Ramos and Youssef En-Nesyri, an Ismael Saibari strike, a Nemanja Gudelj own goal, and Ricardo Pepi’s last-minute header turned the tide for PSV, sending Sevilla crashing out on their way to securing second place.
While third-placed RC Lens still have a mathematical chance of matching PSV’s eight-point tally, head-to-head dominance over the French side ensures a knockout berth for Peter Bosz’s side.
In the Eredivisie, PSV remain unstoppable. A 2-0 win over Heerenveen, courtesy of goals from Guus Til and Pepi, extended their winning streak to 15 games, establishing a comfortable ten-point lead over defending champions Feyenoord Rotterdam.
Victory over Heerenveen was also PSV’s eighth in a row across all competitions, and the Philips Stadion has become an impregnable fortress in 2023.
However, the shadow of their last defeat, inflicted by Tuesday’s visitors Arsenal, looms large.
While PSV cruised to their 15th Eredivisie win on the bounce, Arsenal’s Premier League title aspirations took a major hit at the hands of high-flying Aston Villa on Saturday.
A suspended Mikel Arteta watched helplessly from the director’s box as his team fell 1-0 at Villa Park, succumbing to John McGinn’s early strike and controversial refereeing decisions.
The defeat snapped Arsenal’s six-game winning streak across all competitions, and despite a last-gasp Kai Havertz effort being controversially disallowed for handball, the pressure has eased off the Gunners’ shoulders heading into their Champions League dead-rubber against PSV.
Having already secured top spot and an impressive +12 goal difference in Group B – the best record of any side in Europe’s premier club tournament – the trip to Eindhoven offers Arteta’s side a chance to regroup and refocus.
A first Champions League win on PSV’s home turf since the 2016/17 campaign would be a welcome tonic after their Premier League setback.
Despite the joy of their 4-0 Emirates triumph against PSV in September, the Dutch side still hold the psychological edge after defeating Arsenal on home turf in last year’s Europa League.
Arteta will be keen to turn the tide and head into the knockout stage with momentum, while PSV will be aiming to end their group phase campaign on a high and maintain their formidable home record.
Match Preview
PSV Eindhoven
Riding a wave of eight straight wins and a 10-point Eredivisie lead, PSV prepare to welcome last season’s Premier League runners-up to the Philips Stadion.
Bosz’s troops have been in imperious form, winning all 15 league matches so far, a record-breaking feat fueled by the ex-Borussia Dortmund manager’s arrival in the summer.
Their dominance extends beyond the league, with just one defeat in their last 42 matches across all competitions – a solitary loss that came at the hands of Arsenal.
Despite the Emirates setback, PSV secured their Champions League knockout stage berth for the first time in eight years, currently three points clear of Lens in Group B with a superior head-to-head advantage.
Moreover, the Philips Stadion has become a fortress in Europe, with PSV boasting an unbeaten home record in the Champions League this season – a record last achieved in the group stage of the 2015/16 campaign.
The Dutch leaders will also welcome the Gunners brimming with confidence after emerging victorious in their last two home encounters with their Premier League counterparts.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s six-game winning streak in all competitions met a brutal end on Saturday, along with their reign at the Premier League summit.
Defeat to Villa sent the Gunners tumbling to second place, but they remain within touching distance with the top spot as only a solitary point separates them from leaders Liverpool.
Arteta’s men sit four points clear of PSV and are guaranteed a coveted seeded position in next week’s Round of 16 draw, where they’ll face a runner-up from another group.
However, away form has become an Achilles heel for Arsenal recently, with three losses in their last five matches on the road.
Despite the recent travel trouble, a trip to Eindhoven on Tuesday holds the potential for a much-needed away win for the Gunners and a chance to exorcise the ghosts of past struggles.
Arteta’s side boast a positive head-to-head record against PSV, winning four of their last nine encounters (D3, L2).
However, the Netherlands has not been kind to the Gunners in recent years. Their last victory away at a Dutch side came way back in 2006, a 2-1 triumph against Ajax.
Breaking that barren spell will be a significant psychological boost as they head into the Champions League knockout stages.
Team News
PSV enter Tuesday’s clash against Arsenal with their backline decimated by injuries. Key defenders Jordan Teze (concussion), Armando Obispo (knee), and Armel Bella-Kotchap (shoulder) are all sidelined, leaving gaping holes in their defensive fortress.
Striker Noa Lang is also out with a knock, further diminishing their attacking threat.
To add insult to injury, talismanic winger Hirving Lozano is both suspended and nursing a hip issue. This unexpected personnel crisis presents a golden opportunity for Arsenal to exploit.
Arteta’s men come into the match unscathed from the weekend’s Premier League battle, but pre-existing injuries to Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf) and Thomas Partey (thigh) continue to cast a shadow.
However, with the pressure of securing top spot in the group already off their shoulders, Arteta may opt to rotate his squad.
Leandro Trossard, Aaron Ramsdale, Jorginho, and Jakub Kiwior, all benched at Villa Park, are prime candidates for a starting berth in Eindhoven. The potential return of Emile Smith Rowe could also bolster Arsenal’s attacking options.
PSV Eindhoven potential starting line-up:
(4-3-3): Walter Benitez; Sergino Dest, Andre Ramalho, Olivier Boscagli, Patrick van Aanholt; Ismael Saibari, Joey Veerman, Guus Til; Johan Bakayoko, Luuk De Jong, Ricardo Pepi.
Arsenal potential starting line-up:
(4-3-3): David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko; Martin Odegaard, Jorginho, Declan Rice; Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Leandro Trossard.
We Say: PSV 2-1 Arsenal
Arteta will demand a response from his side in midweek, but a rotated side could struggle against PSV, handing the advantage to the hosts, who are looking to atone for their humiliation in the reverse fixture.
