PSG vs Arsenal Predictions

• Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal 2-1 and 1-0 in last year’s Champions League semi-finals 
• The Gunners are yet to lose in this season’s Champions League
• No team has scored more Champions League goals than PSG’s 44 this term

PSG and Arsenal set for intriguing Budapest battle 

Mikel Arteta has already been branded an Arsenal legend after leading the Gunners to a first Premier League title in 22 years and he will get the opportunity to achieve something even Arsene Wenger couldn’t during his long spell in north London, a Champions League triumph. 

Wenger did make it to the final 20 years ago but a 2-1 loss to Barcelona denied him, and Arsenal, the ultimate success. 

The Gunners have their work cut out if they are to land a maiden Champions League, however, as they are underdogs for their Budapest battle with holders Paris Saint-Germain. 

Arteta to employ an attritional approach

The Parisians romped to a maiden UCL trophy of their own last year, thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, but Luis Enrique knows his side face a tougher test this time around, with Arsenal’s stern defence likely to put up more of a fight than the Nerazzurri’s backline did. 

The brilliance of David Raya, Gabriel and William Saliba saw the Gunners concede just 27 goals in 38 Premier League matches and you can guarantee Arteta’s plan will involve absorbing pressure and looking to catch the favourites out, either on the break or through set-pieces. 

However, while that may work for a while, stopping PSG is not an easy task. Enrique’s side have scored 23 goals in eight Champions League knockout matches this term and their firepower may prove too much for the Gunners. 

Parisians primed for another Champions League triumph

Arsenal are in good form, having won five straight matches. Those wins have come against lesser sides, though, and their defeats to Manchester City in both the League and EFL Cup final suggest that Europe’s best attacking sides have the edge on them. 

PSG certainly fall into that category, with the Parisians scoring 74 goals in 34 Ligue 1 games despite regularly resting key attackers, and a frightening front three of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue will carve out chances, no matter how deep Arteta sets up his defence. 

The midfield battle will be intriguing but while Declan Rice is a top player, he does lack support at times and it seems more likely that Portuguese superstars Joao Neves and Vitinha will dominate the engine room. 

Add in the experience factor after last year’s triumph to an excellent midfield and scarily deadly attack and PSG become extremely hard to oppose.