New season, new competition - and old foes: The Gunners host trigger-happy PSV again

After a six-year absence, Arsenal is set to return to the UEFA Champions League as they host PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium. It will be Mikel Arteta's first game as a manager in the competition.

Arsenal faced PSV Eindhoven twice in the Europa League last season, with each team winning their respective home game. The Gunners are eager to make a strong comeback to the Champions League, a competition they participated in for 19 consecutive seasons before their recent absence, a record only surpassed by Real Madrid and Barcelona. The match against PSV Eindhoven is an opportunity for Arsenal to make a statement and start their Champions League campaign on a positive note.

PSV has undergone significant changes since last season's visit to the Emirates Stadium. Ruud van Nistelrooy was replaced by Peter Bosz as the head coach due to dressing room disputes, and several key players like Xavi Simons, Cody Gakpo, and Noni Madueke have left the club. However, PSV has started the current campaign on a strong note. They retained the Johan Cruyff Shield by defeating Feyenoord and have won all four of their Eredivisie matches, including 4-0 victories against Waalwijk and NEC Nijmegen. This has propelled them to the top of the league table.

The team from Eindhoven also successfully secured a place in the Champions League group stage for the first time since 2018/19. They defeated Sturm Graz 7-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round and overcame Rangers in the play-offs with an emphatic 5-1 win at home. The match against Arsenal provides PSV with an opportunity to continue their strong start to the season and make an impact in the Champions League group stage.

Former Olympique Lyonnais boss Peter Bosz is known for his attack-minded coaching philosophy, and his PSV team reflects this style. They play with confidence in possession, commit many players forward, and approach games with a sense of adventure. However, this attacking approach can leave them vulnerable at the back, especially when they push a large number of players forward. Their high defensive line could be exploited by opponents, especially in situations where they lose possession and need to transition quickly.

It's worth noting that PSV has not kept a clean sheet in European competitions so far this season, conceding a total of five goals in their four qualifying matches. This defensive vulnerability may be an area that opposing teams, like Arsenal, look to exploit, particularly by capitalizing on turnovers and quick transitions.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 1

Tuesday

Milan - Newcastle 0-0

Young Boys - RB Leipzig 1-3 (1-1)

/Elia 33 - Simakan 3, Xaver 73, Sesko 92/

Feyenoord - Celtic 2-0 (1-0)

/Stengs 45, Jahanbakhsh 76/

Lazio - Atl.Madrid 1-1 (0-1)

/Provedel 90+5 -Barrios 29/

PSG - Dortmund 2-0 (0-0)

/Mbappe 49 pen, Hakimi 58/

Man.City - Crvena Zvezda 3-1 (0-1)

/Alvarez 46, 60, Rodri 73 - Bukari 45/

Barcelona - Antwerp 5-0 (3-0)

/Felix 11, 66, Lewandowski 19, Battaile 26 og, Gavi 54/

Shakhtar - Porto 1-3 (1-3)

/Kelsy 13 - Galeno 8, 15, Taremi 29/

Wednesday

19.45: (1.63) Galatasaray (4.00) Copenhagen (6.25)

19.45: (1.40) Real Madrid (5.00) Union Berlin (9.00)

22.00: (1.58) Bayern (4.30) Man.Utd. (6.25)

22.00: (1.40) Arsenal (5.30) PSV (8.00)

22.00: (1.95) Sevilla (3.60) Lens (4.20)

22.00: (4.50) Braga (3.60) Napoli (1.90)

22.00: (1.45) Benfica (4.80) Salzburg (8.00)

22.00: (3.20) Sociedad (3.40) Inter (2.40)

***odds are subject to change