Arsenal is looking to impress with their return in the Champions League as they meet with PSV Eindhoven for their opening match. Arsenal is a team who just returned from the Champions League after six years, with their last participation recorded during the 2016-17 season. This is already the 22nd appearance of Arsenal in the Champions League, earning no titles yet. In fact, they qualified for the finals during the 2005-06 edition, but only earned a silver medal, failing to get the title. As for PSV, they are the team with more experience in the Champions League. In fact, PSV has the more experience in the Champions League, as this is already the 31st appearance in the contest. Additionally, they also won one title in the contest, winning in the 1987-88 season. This meeting is on September 21, 2023, at 3:00 AM (GMT+8).
Arsenal
Arsenal, who last entered the Champions League in 2016-17, suffering a humiliation in front of their own fans, leading to Wenger’s departure. It was an ill-fated Unai Emery era, and a rare season without European football. Despite this, Arsenal will finally dine at Europe’s top table in the coming weeks. They have managed to avoid an intimidating draw in the group stage, as Lens and Sevilla will also be vying for the top two places in Group B. Leandro Trossard provided the spark to secure a 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park, where Arsenal were also without a win since Wenger’s tenure in 2017-18. However, home clean sheets continue to elude the Gunners, with their only Emirates shut-out in their last 11 games coming on the final day of last season against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, and Mohammed Alneny remains to be unavailable in this match due to their injuries. Additionally, they suffered a blow here, as Gabriel Martinelli is still facing an issue in his hamstring.
PSV Eindhoven
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PSV faced Arsenal in Europa League group-stage football, losing 1-0 to them. However, they managed to defeat Sevilla in the playoff round, and this time, PSV swept Sturm Graz 7-3 on aggregate. Eindhoven’s 5-1 home win sealed PSV’s return to the Champions League group stages, where they have not been since the 2018-19 season. PSV has only one European Cup to their name, but this season, they have found their best shooting boots and crushed NEC 4-0 in the Eredivisie. They have unbeaten in 26 competitive matches and have scored twice in their last eight contests. However, they have only scored once away from home against the Gunners.
Noa Lang is a doubt in this match as he was forced off during their match against NEC. If Lang cannot play here, he will be replaced by Hirving Lozano here.
Prediction:
Arsenal (1.5)
Odds: -0.88
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