
EPL Index
·6 May 2025
PSG vs Arsenal: Champions League Semi-Final Preview, Latest Team News and TV Watching Guide

EPL Index
·6 May 2025
Arsenal head into the lion’s den of the Parc des Princes knowing exactly what’s at stake. One goal down from the first leg, and now 90 minutes (or more) away from a potential return to the UEFA Champions League final – a place they haven’t visited since 2006. But this isn’t a task they’ll take lightly. This is Paris Saint-Germain, and this is the Champions League, where margins are brutally thin and narratives unforgiving.
It’s PSG vs Arsenal in what promises to be a finely-balanced European contest under the Parisian floodlights on Wednesday night. The Ligue 1 giants hold a slender advantage thanks to their first-leg win at the Emirates, but recent form suggests this tie is far from over. Both sides come into the game after suffering domestic defeats – Arsenal humbled at home by Bournemouth, and PSG edged out by Strasbourg after resting most of their first-team regulars.
Photo: IMAGO
That defeat won’t bother Luis Enrique much. His side had the luxury of rotation, with one eye firmly on this second leg. Arsenal, on the other hand, didn’t have that freedom. Mikel Arteta had to juggle priorities, and the result means the Gunners are now locked in a fight just to secure Champions League football next season, regardless of how this European adventure ends.
The Gunners’ challenge is not just tactical or mental, but physical too. Jurrien Timber, who has barely had a chance to feature this season, limped off in the first leg and wasn’t in the squad against Bournemouth. Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhães, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kai Havertz are all sidelined, with Havertz’s recovery not expected in time for Wednesday.
There is some positive news, however. Thomas Partey returns from suspension, and captain Martin Ødegaard has quelled any injury concerns surrounding him. Still, it’s not the full-strength side Arteta would have envisioned for such a pivotal night.
Having already eliminated Manchester United and Manchester City en route to the semi-finals, PSG now look to make it three Premier League scalps in a row. That would not only send a strong message to the rest of Europe, but also reinforce their ambitions of finally lifting the one trophy that continues to evade them – the UEFA Champions League.
“Unbelievable,” said many after their disciplined display in London. And despite questions around consistency, the Parisians have been efficient when it counts. Ousmane Dembélé, who was forced off with a hamstring strain in the first leg, is reportedly back in training and could yet feature in the second leg. L’Equipe reports the winger returned to group sessions on Monday after individual gym work over the weekend.
Photo IMAGO
Date: Wednesday, 7 May 2025Kick-Off: 8:00pm BSTVenue: Parc des Princes, ParisTV Channel: TNT Sports 1 (UK) – coverage begins at 7:00pm BSTLive Stream: Discovery+ app and website (for TNT Sports subscribers)
Both teams have vulnerabilities – PSG’s domestic inconsistency and Arsenal’s injury list – but this is exactly where legends are made and history is written. For Arsenal, it’s about rewriting the pain of past near-misses. For PSG, it’s another chance to finally take the step from continental hopefuls to true European heavyweights. Whichever side prevails, it’s safe to expect drama, tension, and the kind of high-stakes theatre only the UEFA Champions League can deliver.