Arsenal vs PSV: Preview, Prediction & Lineups

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Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven: Champions League Second Leg

Arsenal host PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates on Wednesday, March 12, for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie. After a 7-1 win in the first leg, Arsenal has one foot in the quarters. The Gunners smashed a record in Eindhoven, becoming the first team to score 7 away goals in a KO match in the competition’s history.

PSV has a mountain to climb, needing to overturn a 6 goal deficit. They won in the league at the weekend but their performance in the first leg leaves them massive underdogs for this one.

Team News & Tactics

Arsenal

Arteta will rotate heavily given the advantage from the first leg. Saka and Martinelli will be rested, while fringe players and youngsters will get a chance. Neto will start in goal, White, Kiwior and Zinchenko in defence.

Jorginho will replace Rice in midfield, with Myles Lewis-Skelly alongside Odegaard. Merino will continue in his makeshift forward role, with Sterling and Tierney supporting him.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Neto; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Lewis-Skelly; Sterling, Merino, Tierney

PSV Eindhoven

PSV will be without Perez and several injured players like Tillman and Pepi. Bosz will make changes after the hammering in the first leg. Bakayoko and Mauro Junior will start, with Luuk de Jong leading the line.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Benitez; Ledezma, Flamingo, Obispo, Junior; Veerman, Schouten; Bakayoko, Til, Lang; de Jong

Key Stats

Arsenal have never lost at home to PSV Eindhoven in five meetings across all competitions.* Arsenal are unbeaten in nine Champions League games at the Emirates.
PSV have won just one of their last seven away games across all competitions.
Arsenal scored seven goals from six different players in the first leg.

Player to Watch: Mikel Merino

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The versatile Spaniard has adapted well to his makeshift striker role under Arteta. With three goals and two assists in his last four games as a forward, Merino will look to add to that against PSV.

Arsenal vs PSV Prediction

With a 6 goal advantage from the first leg and home fortress at the Emirates, Arsenal should breeze this. PSV will probably show more fight than they did in Eindhoven but won’t trouble the Gunners much.