Champions League: Arsenal vs. PSG Prediction, Preview & Team News — Honors Even at the Emirates (Oct 1)

The Champions League returns on Tuesday, and in this article, we’re going to give our prediction for the first game; Arsenal vs. PSG.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners come into Week 2’s mammoth matchup in scintillating form and will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run to nine games with a win over Luis Enrique’s Parisians.

PSG are also unbeaten so far this season though. The team from Paris sits top of the Ligue 1 table with 16 points, separated from second-place Monaco on goal difference (15:9).

In Europe, the start of the Champions League last week saw PSG drawn against Spanish side Girona. And although Enrique’s men put in a relatively underwhelming performance on the night, a 1-0 victory at the Parc des Princes was enough to ensure all three points stayed in the French capital.

For Arsenal, Week 1 didn’t go according to plan though.

They managed just a point after drawing 0-0 away to Atalanta — although, huge thanks were owed to David Raya after the goalkeeper made a sensational double-save to prevent Matteo Retegui from winning the game from the penalty spot.

Tuesday night’s blockbuster at the Emirates Stadium in London should live up to all its pre-match hype, and some.

Arsenal Game Today: Gunners Big Favorites

Interestingly, PSG are the bookmakers’ underdogs for this matchup.

Arteta’s Londoners, who, of course, have the home advantage, are expected to take all three points — although we’re not so sure it’s going to be quite that simple.

PSG Unbeaten on European Stage

The reason Arsenal’s odds don’t appeal to us all that much? — Well, although they have the better overall head-to-head record against Tuesday’s opponents, they have never beaten them in the Champions League — managing only a draw on both occasions.

Considering the team’s history against one another, as well as the bookmakers’ odds, backing the draw at +287 looks very appealing.

🚨 ⚽️ TIP: PSG/ Draw Double Chance is available at plus money (+110).

Team News

Arsenal

Arsenal are expected to be without the injured Ben White, who did not train on Monday, for Tuesday’s game against PSG. This means that Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are both likely to start at full-back.

Elsewhere in Arsenal’s defense, Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko is out with a calf injury with Scotland’s Kieran Tierney also sidelined with a hamstring issue.

Captain Martin Odegaard is also ruled out after the midfielder picked up an ankle injury against Austria while on international duty with Norway at the start of the month.

There could, however, be a third start of the season for striker Gabriel Jesus after he was preferred over Leandro Trossard against Atalanta last time out.

Predicted Line-Up

David Raya (GK); Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori; Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz; Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus.

PSG

Enrique will be without several key players, including striker Goncalo Ramos, who is ruled out for a prolonged period with an ankle injury.

Lucas Hernandez and Presnel Kimpembe are also ruled out with knee and Achilles problems respectively.

There is some good news for PSG fans though. Despite being doubts for Tuesday night’s match against Arsenal, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Vitinha, Marco Asensio, Desire Doue, and Nuno Mendes have all been declared fit enough to feature.

Predicted Line-Up

Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK); Achref Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Fabian Ruiz, Joao Neves, Warren Zaire-Emery; Lee Kang-in, Randal Kolo Muani, Bradley Barcola.

Arsenal vs. PSG Prediction

Both these team come into Tuesday’s game in great form and have conceded just 10 league goals between them, so picking a winner is almost impossible.

It’s also hard to make a case for Arsenal at such short odds. The Gunners probably are the better team, but let’s be honest here, they don’t exactly have the best record in Europe — and even less so against PSG.

Given the pair’s history, as well as their fine starts to the season, the honors even and the points shared seem like a good bet.

Pick:

• Draw (287)

Tags:
• Champions League