Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven

Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven are set to square off at the Emirates Stadium in a handsomely-looking Champions League Group B curtain-raiser.

Back to the Champions League group stages for the first time since the 2016/17 season, Arsenal face familiar foes in their Group B opener as they pipped PSV to a top-table finish in last season’s Europa League Group A. Mikel Arteta prepares for his touchline debut in Europe’s premier competition after guiding the ‘Gunners’ to a near-perfect Premier League start this term (W4, D1). A narrow 1-0 triumph at Everton last weekend marked only Arsenal’s second clean sheet in six competitive games this season. However, they’ve been traditionally rock-solid at the back against PSV, clocking three clean sheets across their four previous European H2Hs in North London (W2, D2). The local crowd could witness a more dramatic encounter for a change, with each of Arsenal’s three home matches this season featuring over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring.

On the other hand, PSV Eindhoven demolished Scottish powerhouse Rangers in their Champions League playoff tie, running out 7-3 aggregate victors to book their first group-stage appearance since 2017/18. New manager Peter Bosz has excelled during his early regime, with the ‘Peasants’ winning all Eredivisie fixtures by a combined score of 13-1, most recently dismantling NEC Nijmegen 4-0 at home last weekend. Too hot to handle in the front third, the Dutch heavyweights have tallied 13 goals across their last three competitive outings (W3), highlighting the potential for an action-packed contest in London. Bosz would accept a less impressive encounter if it’d allow his side to avoid defeat at the venue they’ve never won at before (D2, L2).