Arsenal vs PSG Preview: Three bets for a huge Champions League clash

Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain meet in a blockbuster Champions League clash at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, although both teams will be without key players through injury.

Gunners captain Martin Odegaard remains out with the ankle injury he sustained while on international duty and fellow midfielder Mikel Merino is unlikely to make it back in time to face the French champions.

Ben White is a major doubt after missing Saturday’s 4-2 win over Leicester City with a knee problem, adding to the issues in defence that have recently denied Arsenal the services of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney.

Jorginho could return to Mikel Arteta’s starting XI instead of Thomas Partey, but Arsenal may otherwise be unchanged from Saturday’s Premier League game.

As for the visitors, winger Ousmane Dembele has been dropped from the squad following a reported bust-up with Luis Enrique. 

The PSG boss can shuffle his pack by recalling defender Milan Skriniar or striker Randal Kolo Muani, who both came off the bench in a 3-1 win over Rennes on Friday.

Left-back Nuno Mendes returns after illness, as do midfielder Vitinha and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, but full-back Lucas Hernandez (knee), central defender Presnel Kimpembe (Achilles) and forward Goncalo Ramos (ankle) are all sidelined with long-term injuries.

These two clubs have met four times in European competitions with Arsenal winning once – in the now-defunct UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup back in 1994 – and the three other games all finishing all square.

Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals @ 21/20 with bet365

Under 9.5 Corners @ 5/6 with bet365

Over 4.5 Cards @ Evens with bet365

Clash can bring the best out of attack-minded sides

Arsenal had David Raya to thank for an away point at Atalanta in their opening game of the League stage in this competition two weeks ago.

The Spanish keeper made a crucial double save in the second half to preserve the Gunners’ clean sheet in a 0-0 draw for Arteta’s side.

The Italians enjoyed slightly more possession, producing a higher volume and quality of shots as Arsenal were forced to batten down the hatches in Bergamo.

But this match promises to be a far more open and entertaining affair. The Gunners have scored nine goals and conceded three in their last two home games, albeit one was when a clutch of young players got their chance in the Carabao Cup.

PSG will not come to defend for 90 minutes either, although Luis Enrique may change to a 3-4-3 formation to gain traction in midfield.

Dembele’s absence is an unexpected blow, but Les Parisiens still have decisive attacking players that can threaten Arsenal’s back four such as Bradley Barcola, Marco Asensio and Desire Doue. 

Both teams have scored in five of PSG’s seven games this term with at least three goals scored in four of those, so the prospects of a high-scoring contest with goals at both ends look good.

Corner count could be lower than expected 

Arsenal won 17 corners against the Foxes on Saturday and they have been kings of the set-piece in the Premier League for the past couple of seasons, both in terms of winning corners and denying them to their opponents. 

Like Arsenal, PSG do not concede many corners and have allowed none of their seven opponents this season to tally more than four in any game. 

They will not sit deep and allow themselves to be dominated territorially, which should reduce the number of chances to gain corners for the Gunners.

Fewer than 10 corners were recorded in all three of Arsenal’s group stage games at the Emirates Stadium last term, and it seems worth taking Under 9.5 in this clash too.

PSG have the potential to keep the ref busy

Top Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic will take charge of this game and he has not been a particularly card-happy official in the past year.

He handed out only four cautions in last season’s Champions League final and a similar number in the Euro 2024 semi-final between Spain and France.

But PSG can be feisty on the road in this competition and Arsenal will not back down from any confrontations either. 

With an average of 5.5 cards per game in the group stage last year, the French giants can ensure this match forces Vincic to reach for his pocket more than four times.