It’s advantage PSG going into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Arsenal on Wednesday. Not only are they at home, but they take a 1-0 advantage going into the game.

Ousmane Dembele struck early at the Emirates to give PSG the lead. They were utterly dominant in the opening stages, but did have to rely on saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma to prevent the Gunners from scoring.

This was the first time the French side had beaten Arsenal in European competition and they will feel confident of finishing the job at the Parc des Princes. If they do, the Gunners will be the third English side PSG will have eliminated from the competition this season.

However, Mikel Arteta’s team will be fully focused on getting a result and will feel confident after beating Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabeu in the last round.

PSG VS ARSENAL PREVIEW

Both teams go into this game off the back of defeats, suggesting focus is very much on this encounter. Arsenal lost 2-1 at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday while PSG were beaten by the same score line in Strasbourg.

PSG have lost three of their last six in all competitions, but they did play a weakened team against Strasbourg. This is in contrast to Arsenal, who lost to the Cherries with most of their star names on the pitch.

PSG are particularly strong when winning the first leg of a European knockout tie away from home. They have only ever been eliminated once thereafter, although that was against Manchester United six years ago.

Only two teams have ever progressed to the Champions League final after losing the first leg of the semi-final at home. Ajax did this over Panathinaikos in 1996 while Tottenham Hotspur were successful against Ajax in 2019.

There is hope for Arsenal though. The potential absence of goal scorer Ousmane Dembele, who picked up a hamstring strain in the first leg, could significantly weaken PSG. Goncalo Ramos is likely to replace him.

Most of PSG’s big star names should be back after being rested against Strasbourg.

Thomas Partey will return for Arsenal following suspension. The midfielder was strongly missed against Bournemouth at the weekend. Martin Odegaard sustained a small knock, but should feature. Jurrien Timber will undergo a late fitness test.

However, Riccardo Calafiori (knee), Jorginho (lung), Kai Havertz (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus (knee), Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are all out.

PSG VS ARSENAL – PREDICTIONS

PSG Win
The wind is in their sails and they have home advantage, so PSG will be feeling confident that the time is theirs in the Champions League. They have scored 14 goals in their last three home victories in the Champions League.

Draw
Arsenal are draw specialists in the Premier League, having racked up 13 stalemates this season, including three in their last five games. Both times Arsenal and PSG have met in Paris have been 1-1 draws too.

Arsenal Win
Liverpool proved PSG are beatable on their home turf, having secured a 1-0 win at the Parc des Princes earlier this season. Thomas Partey’s return could boost Arsenal, while Ousmane Dembele’s potential absence could weaken PSG. The Paris crowd is often restive and if Arsenal can score early on, they can grab hold of the tie.

PSG VS ARSENAL – BETTING TIPS

Draw
Although Liverpool proved that PSG are beatable on their home turf, it’s clear the momentum is with the French outfit. Dembele’s absence could be a real blow to them though, and Partey’s return a real boost for Arsenal. However, the Gunners are defensively sloppy and gaps could be exploited in their need to score here. PSG have scored in all of their last 13 games and I can see them making it 14.

Conversely, both times Arsenal have played against PSG in Paris have ended 1-1 and this result seems plausible here. The Gunners have a wide range of attacking options too and need to score to have any chance of progressing.

Both Teams To Score
As both games between PSG and Arsenal in the French capital have ended in a 1-1 draw, BTTS was a winning bet.

PSG have scored 14 goals in their last three Champions League home games. They are on a 13-match run where they have netted at least once.

The last time Arsenal failed to score, aside from the first leg, was back on 26 February in a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest.

HEAD-TO-HEAD AND KEY STATS

• Arsenal and PSG have played each other six times, with the Gunners winning twice. PSG have won once, while there have been three draws.
• PSG’s victory last week was the first time they had beaten Arsenal in European competition.
• PSG have scored 14 goals in their last three victories at home in the Champions League.
• PSG have only won two of their last six games in all competitions.
• PSG have never won a Champions League semi-final at home in three attempts. They were beaten by Borussia Dortmund in 2023-24, Manchester City in 2020-21 and AC Milan in 1994-95
• PSG have not failed to score in any of their last 13 games in all competitions.
• Arsenal are aiming to become only the third team to reach the Champions League final after losing the semi-final first leg at home.
• Arsenal are unbeaten in seven games away from home in all competitions. They have only lost once in 17 games on the road.
• Arsenal have won their last four European away matches, scoring at least twice each time. They have, however, failed to keep a clean sheet in all four too.