We head into the second leg of our Champions League last-16 tie with PSV Eindhoven with a commanding 7-1 lead, knowing our spot in the quarter-finals is all-but secure.
A record-breaking night in the Netherlands last week sees us in pole position to face one of the Madrid clubs in the last eight next month, as we seek successive last-eight appearances in the competition for the first time since 2010.
Despite the massive margin on the scoreboard, there is still plenty to play for. PSV will be looking to restore some pride after being left shell-shocked at home, while we have a proud home record to maintain. We have a 100% record in the Champions League this term on our own patch without conceding, putting us on the brink of hitting six-straight wins row in Europe's premier club competition for the first time since 2005, setting us up perfectly for a visit from either of Spain's capital clubs.
Read more Tickets available for PSV Champions League clash
Weekend win heals wounds
PSV went into the first leg on the back of a dreadful run of form in 2025 following the resumption of the Eredivisie season, which had seen a five-point lead at the top turn into an eight-point deficit as Ajax surged into championship contention by winning all their matches.
The Eindhoven club had won one in six heading into our visit last week, and that bruising defeat at the Philips Stadion saw them concede seven times for just the third time in their history, and the first since 1960.
But they bounced back on Saturday by returning to winning ways against Herenveen. Peter Bosz made just one change to his side and Ismail Saibari and Guus Til put them 2-0 ahead, and while Levi Smans pulled one back for the visitors, PSV held on to record their first league win in five attempts.
Read more Everything you need to know about PSV Eindhoven
What the managers say
Arteta: “It's understanding how the game was played a week ago and the fact that everything went in the right direction for us from the beginning. We're going to have to earn the right tomorrow to go in the same direction, so we’re fully focused on that.
"We understand what happened in the first game and the direction that it could have taken in the first 10 minutes. After all the control that we had, if we give the goal away or if the referee would have given the second yellow card to Myles, it's very simple. This is football, you have to earn it."
Read more Every word from Mikel Arteta's pre-PSV presser
Bosz: "Of course, it would be a huge miracle. But miracles happen sometimes, right?. I think everyone who was on the field last week doesn't want to go through what happened there again. We want to show that we are better than that.
"You're playing against a top club in a great stadium. Everyone who started playing football as a little boy dreams of being here in the Champions League. We are very motivated to make it a real game. With an eye on the league, I will make some choices."
Team news
Gabriel Martinelli returned to action against Manchester United on Sunday and he could be involved again, leaving Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz (both hamstring), Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu (both knee) on the sidelines.
It remains to be seen if Mikel Arteta will shuffle his pack given our commanding lead, and a Premier League encounter against fourth-placed Chelsea to come on Sunday.
PSV welcomed back Mauro Junior as well as Sergino Dest for the first time in 11 months on Saturday, after the USA full-back came on in the win against Heerenveen.
His international teammates Riccardo Pepi and Malik Tillman remain out after major knee and ankle injuries, while January arrival Esmir Bajraktarevic has a shoulder problem. Former Gunner Lucas Perez is not registered for the Champions League.
Talking tactics
Adrian Clarke, writing in the official matchday programme: PSV lined up in an attack-minded 4-2-3-1 in the first leg, which is one of the two formations they tend to deploy. The alternative is a more pragmatic 4-3-3 instead, while out of possession Bosz demands a hard work ethic, and plenty of pressing. Although we played out from the back with confidence last week, PSV are usually terrific at forcing turnovers via their press.They are very adventurous in their approach, and in the league phase, only Bayern Munich and PSG averaged more shots per match. Encouraged to play at a high tempo, they will move the ball quickly from back to front towards target man Luuk de Jong, or shift it at pace between the thirds through their vibrant ball-playing midfield unit. Whenever they get onto the front foot they commit men forward, and where possible they fill the box in anticipation of crosses.PSV are an expert outfit from set pieces, scoring eight goals from corners and wide free-kicks in the competition so far; the most of all the teams involved, but their core strengths lie in the final third where a plethora of talented attacking midfielders make things happen. Wingers Noa Lang and Yohan Bakayoko [above] have each scored and assisted in Europe this term, while veteran winger Ivan Perisic’s left foot deserves respect.Keeping clean sheets has been problematic for the Dutch giants, who have registered just one shutout in 15 games in all competitions in 2025. Their attacking style leaves them a little open at times, and our incredible movement in the first leg exploited this. It is not in their nature to play in a cautious manner, so as they chase goals in north London, holes could be left open that we may exploit.
Facts and stats
Since the start of last season, we have won eight of our nine home games in the Champions League (D1), keeping eight clean sheets. We’ll be looking to keep five successive shutouts at Emirates Stadium for the first time since 2008/09.
The only English team to score 10 goals across two legs in the Champions League was Man City vs Schalke in 2018/19 (won 10-2 on aggregate).
PSV are winless in their last six away major European games in England (D2 L4), with their last two visits being defeats to us. They’ve won four of 20 away games in the country.
The Dutch side haven’t kept a clean sheet away from home in the Champions League since March 2016, conceding in each of their last 15 such games.
Our biggest aggregate victory in major European competition is 10-0 vs Standard Liege in the 1993/94 Cup Winners' Cup, the last time any English team won by 10+ goals on aggregate in any major European competition. In the European Cup, the last English team to do so was Leeds United against Lyn in 1969/70 (16-0).
The biggest margin overturned between legs by a side in the Champions League is four goals (Barcelona v PSG at this stage in 2016/17), while the biggest by a side to lose the first leg at home is just two goals (Man Utd v PSG at this stage in 2018/19).
In the European Cup, the last side to lose the first leg by 6+ goals and win the second leg was Omonia Nicosia in 1979/80 vs Ajax (first leg 0-10, second leg 4-0).
Match officials
Slovenian referee Rade Obrenovic has been handed control of this game, his fourth in the Champions League this season. His previous outings in the competition so far have seen awarded 14 yellow cards and one red.
He has been officiating in UEFA competitions since 2017 but this is just the second season he has been enlisted for the Champions League. He was also a fourth official at Euro 2024.
Referee: Rade ObrenovicAssistants: Jure Praprotnik, Grega KordezFourth official: David SmajcVAR: Alen BorosakAssistant VAR: Tiago Martins
Recent visits from PSV
PSV have headed to north London on five occasions since their first visit in 2002 and each time have returned without tasting victory. In fact, we are unbeaten in our last eight home games against Dutch opposition since a 1-0 loss to Ajax in the European Cup back in March 1972.
Our first home encounter with PSV was a 0-0 draw at Highbury when Kolo Toure was red-carded, but two years later an own goal by Alex secured us a 1-0 success at our old home. The Brazilian defender then netted at both ends in the second leg of our last 16 clash in 2006/07, but the 1-1 draw was enough to see PSV progress.
In 2022/23, a Granit Xhaka goal was enough to seal a Europa League group stage win, while last season saw us blast in four goals to return to the Champions League in style, with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard all scoring.
Live coverage
Tune into Arsenal.com and the official app from an hour before kick for Live From N5, as Frimmy and Jeremie Aliadiere kick things off pitchside.
Nicole Holliday & BRIT Award-winning Femi Koleoso pick things up in the Live from N5 studio, while Femi's brother and bandmate TJ drops by as well as DJ Sammy Virji.
Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn gives us his pre-match thoughts, while uou'll see all the best bits of Frimmy's away day in Eindhoven in the first leg, and we'll take you to Camden Beer Hall to relive our Live from N5 Man Utd watch-along event.Then when the action gets underway, live commentary comes from Dan Roebuck and Adrian Clarke - so make sure you check it all out!
You can also find out which broadcasters are showing the action live, wherever you are in the world
Read more How to watch Arsenal v PSV live on TV
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