Arsenal vs PSG – It just doesn’t get much bigger
Well, today’s the day. It just doesn’t really get any bigger than this does it?
You could maybe argue the case for a few other games, but it would be very hard to go against the suggestion that tonight’s Champions League semi-final first leg against PSG is the biggest night the Emirates has seen since it opened in 2006.
I know there was the Manchester United semi-final in 2009, but Arsenal were already trailing going into that second leg and United were the overwhelming favourites to go through, which of course they did.
Tonight just feels a bit different though. It’s the first leg and the tie is very much there to be won. It’s just a monumental occasion for the club whatever way you look at it.
“It’s probably one of the biggest games that the Emirates has seen since we built it,” Mikel Arteta said last night.
“I’m full of energy, enthusiasm, and I can’t wait to play the game.”
The good news ahead of tonight’s game is that both Mikel Merino and Ben White are back available.
Having Merino fit really is important. With Thomas Partey suspended and Jorginho injured, it would have been a real problem had the Spaniard also missed out.
The fact he is available makes Arteta’s team selection relatively easy. Obviously he could pull a surprise and he has done that in the past, but barring some sort of injury setback that we are yet to hear about, I think we could all pretty confidently predict the XI for tonight’s game.
I know PSG are a very different animal now to the one that Arsenal brushed aside relatively comfortably back in October, but there is still plenty I believe Arteta and the players can take from that game.
The way Arsenal physically dominated in midfield that night allowed them to control the game and if they can do that again then that will put them in a very strong position.
That’s why having Merino back is so vital. We know that Rice will drop into the No.6 role to replace the absent Partey and Merino will fill the left eight position that Rice usually occupies.
Those two players have to be on it. They have to press well and use their power to unsettle the likes of Vitinha and Joao Neves.
Arsenal’s full-backs will be key as well. PSG’s attack is so good and so quick and they will look to counter at every opportunity and get in down the flanks.
If Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly can come out on top in their one-on-one battles that could take the sting out of the visitors and they way they try to go forward.
Arteta always says that top Champions League games are decided by how efficient teams are in both boxes.
Cut out the mistakes at the back and be clinical in the final third. If you do that, then more often than not you will get the result you are looking for.
That’s what Arsenal have to do tonight, just as they did against Real Madrid a few weeks ago.
Let's live every moment – together ✊ pic.twitter.com/8FPt8mbjzS
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 28, 2025
Honestly, I can’t wait to get to the stadium later.
The fans are going to be so important. The atmosphere against Real Madrid made a huge difference in the first leg and Arteta wants even more this time around.
“I told them, and I’m not exaggerating when I said, ‘guys, bring your boots, bring your shorts, bring your T-shirts’ and let’s play every ball together,” he said as he issued one final rallying cry in last night’s press conference.
“If you want to do something special, that place [the Emirates] has to be something special, something that we haven’t seen.”
The message doesn’t much clearer than that, does it?
So if you’re going later, be loud and help make this a night we will all remember for a long, long time.
Enjoy it everyone. See you on the other side………