Champions League: Arsenal aim for historic comeback against PSG in Paris
by Joseph King
A defining night in Arsenal history
Arsenal will know the challenge that awaits them as they look to overturn a 1-0 aggregate lead away from home against PSG on Wednesday. There’s no downplaying the magnitude of the occasion that the Arsenal players will have to cope with in Paris; it marks one of the biggest nights in the team’s history and could go down as a defining moment for this crop of players should they manage to pull it off. On the line is the club's second ever Champions League finals appearance (first since 2006), while PSG is seeking a return to the big stage after finishing as runners-up in 2020.
While the Gunners haven’t made it easy for themselves, they're still very much in this tie.
It’s likely going to require Arsenal’s best performance of the season if they are to secure a matchup with Inter in the final (see our Champions League predictions). They will come into this fixture off the back of two straight defeats and three without a victory. To make matters worse, their usually stalwart defense has looked vulnerable in recent matches, with five goals allowed in those three games.
Difficult, but not impossible
An early PSG goal could crush the spirit of the Arsenal players, so they’ll have to be careful in the beginning stages. Should they start the first 25 minutes of the second leg in the same manner that they started in the first leg, then this tie could well be over by halftime. As a reminder of what they’re up against, only two teams in Champions League history have managed to advance following a semi-final home defeat in the first leg:
- Ajax over Panathinaikos in 1996 (1-0 first leg defeat, 3-0 second leg victory)
- Tottenham over Ajax in 2019 (1-0 first leg defeat, 3-2 second leg victory)
With all of that in mind, let’s look at a few of the key reasons as to why Arsenal can pull off the comeback:
Thomas Partey back from suspension
The Ghanaian was suspended for the first leg after picking up a unnecessary yellow card in the final minutes of Arsenal’s second leg win over Real Madrid. Arsenal have been a much more effective side this season with Partey playing the number six role in midfield, which allows Declan Rice the ability to play as a more progressive, box-to-box eight.
Good away results in this competition
Arsenal have racked up four wins, one draw and only one defeat from their six away UCL matches so far. The most notable being their 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the Bernabeu in the previous round.
Arsenal’s away record this season in the Premier League and UCL:
| Competition | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals scored | Goals conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 8 | 7 | 2 | 30 | 14 |
| Champions League | 4 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 5 |
| Combined | 12 | 8 | 3 | 46 | 19 |
PSG have a few slip-ups at the Parc des Princes
While they’ve been more impressive on home soil in recent Champions League matches, Les Parisiens have not been unbeatable here. They have a 4-1-2 home record in the 2024/25 Champions League which includes losses to Atletico and Liverpool, as well as a draw with PSV.
Strong defensive record
Despite having some struggles in recent weeks, Arsenal’s defense remains one of the best in Europe. Only nine times in 48 games in the Premier League and UCL this season have the Gunners allowed their opponents to score twice. Additionally, the last time they conceded three goals was December 5th, 2023.
A high-stakes fixture awaits
This Gunners squad have proven themselves resilient and they have the makeup of a team built to win tough European ties like this - defensively sound, a threat from set pieces and deadly on the counter attack. However, PSG’s evolution over the season is no joke. With the acquisition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Luis Enrique’s side has a devastating attacking front three. Dembele, having the best season of his life, and the exciting Desire Doue complete the trident and are sure to cause the Arsenal defenders some headaches.
This will be a memorable night for the fanbase of one of these two clubs, while the other will rue what could have been. Les Rouge-et-Bleu will feel that they have a real chance to finally win European club football’s most coveted trophy, while Arsenal have a chance to make a real statement. Either way, we should be in for a cracker of a match!
