Arsenal XI vs PSG: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Champions League semi-final

Evening Standard

·28. April 2025

Arsenal XI vs PSG: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Champions League semi-final

Mikel Arteta has a big decision to make in midfield as the Gunners welcome PSG to the Emirates Stadium

Declan Rice is set to be handed a new midfield task against Paris Saint-Germain

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Arsenal have been handed a major boost after Mikel Merino trained ahead of their Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain.

Merino missed the Gunners’ most recent match - against Crystal Palace last Wednesday - and was a doubt for the first leg of Arsenal’s semi-final against PSG at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

The Spaniard, however, took part in training on Monday afternoon and is expected to be fit for the game.

Ben White, who also missed last week’s 2-2 draw with Palace, trained as well and should be fit to feature in what is a further boost for Mikel Arteta.

Merino has been starring upfront for Arsenal since February, but he is likely to play in midfield on Tuesday.

Boost: Mikel Merino and Ben White trained ahead of the PSG game

AFP via Getty Images

Thomas Partey is suspended and Arteta is also without fellow defensive midfielder, Jorginho, due to a rib injury.

It means Declan Rice could be tasked with playing at the base of midfield, instead of his usual No8 role.

Merino would then drop into the midfield alongside Rice and captain Martin Odegaard, with Leandro Trossard leading the line.

Trossard has been in fine form for Arsenal this month and has already scored four goals.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to flank him on either wing, with the latter a second-half substitute in last week’s draw with Palace.

At the back, Arteta is expected to stick with the defence that kept Real Madrid quiet in the last round. That would mean another start for Jakub Kiwior alongside William Saliba in the heart of defence.

Arsenal likely XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli

Tuesday 8.30pm GMT, Amazon Prime

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Referee: Slavko Vincic

Arsenal squad from: Neto, Raya, Setford; Kacurri, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Saliba, Tierney, Timber, Zinchenko; Merino, Nwaneri, Odegaard, Rice; Martinelli, Saka, Sterling and Trossard.

Injured: Calafiori (knee), Gabriel (hamstring), Havertz (hamstring), Jesus (knee), Jorginho (ribs), Tomiyasu (knee)

Suspended: Partey