Arsenal take on PSG tonight in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, as Mikel Arteta seeks to lead the Gunners to a first European Cup in the club’s long history.
Arsenal may have fallen short in the Premier League title race but they have been England’s best side in Europe this season, and they stand on the verge of history after knocking out Real Madrid so convincingly in the last round. Thomas Partey is suspended and Gabriel remains injured but otherwise Arteta has a strong XI to call upon.
But Paris Saint-Germain have been arguably the best side in the Champions League so far and their fast flowing football under Luis Enrique presents a whole new challenge. Arsenal must finds ways to contain the attacking threat of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and wonderkid Desire Doue to reach the final for the first time since 2006.
Follow the score and all the latest updates from Arsenal v PSG below.
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Arsenal v Paris Saint-Germain
- Arsenal host PSG in first leg of Champions League semi-final | 8pm KO on Amazon Prime Video
- Both clubs are bidding to win the first European Cup in their history
- Barcelona meet Inter Milan in second semi-final on Wednesday evening
- Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
- PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Doue, Dembele.
- Mikel Merino drops into midfield with Thomas Partey suspended as Leandro Trossard starts
Arsenal FC - Paris Saint-Germain FC
Arsenal vs PSG team news
18:56
,
Jamie Braidwood
Thomas Partey is suspended for the first leg after his caution against Real Madrid, with Jorginho’s ongoing absence with a rib injury meaning Declan Rice drops into a deeper role alongside Mikel Merino. Leandro Trossard starts in attack. Riccardo Calafiori is not involved due to injury and joins Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz on the list of absences.
Luis Enrique does not have any absences and names his strongest team. The French club have added January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to their squad since a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal during the league phase of the competition and he starts alongside Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, with Bradley Barcola on the bench.
PSG team to take on Arsenal
18:48
,
Mike Jones
PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Pacho, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Doue, Kvaratskhelia, Dembele
Arsenal team to face PSG
18:45
,
Mike Jones
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 29, 2025
Saliba at the back
Merino partners Rice
Trossard leads the line
Let's do this - together
A good sign for the Gunners?
18:40
,
Mike Jones
The Gunners have won each of their last three Champions League games against French sides by an aggregate scoreline of 11-0.
Their most recent home European defeat against a French side came against Monaco back in 2014/15.
Arsenal's unbeaten run
18:35
,
Mike Jones
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last eight Champions League games (seven wins, one draw).
This is their second-longest run without defeat within a single edition, following a 12-game streak in 2005/06 when they reached the final.
A bad place to travel
18:30
,
Mike Jones
Paris Saint-Germain have lost five of their last six away matches against English teams in the Champions League.
They have also lost against four different opponents in this run (Manchester City x2, Arsenal, Newcastle, and Aston Villa).
Mikel Arteta tells Arsenal fans ‘I need you’ in passionate message ahead of PSG clash
18:24
,
Jamie Braidwood
Mikel Arteta has issued a rallying cry ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, addressing supporters directly and telling them “I need you”.
The Gunners play the French champions in what is just their third Champions League semi-final and first since 2009. Arteta has called on Arsenal to make use of their home advantage in the first leg, before facing PSG away next week.
Can Arsenal emulate Man City?
18:19
,
Mike Jones
Arsenal have already beaten PSG in the Champions League this season, winning 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the league phase last October.
Only one English side has beaten PSG twice in a single edition of the competition: Manchester City in the 2020-21 semi-finals (2-1 away, 2-0 at home).
Arsenal vs PSG
18:14
,
Mike Jones
This will be the sixth meeting between Arsenal and PSG, while the Gunners are unbeaten across the previous five (two wins, three draws).
Arsenal are the opponent that the French side have faced the most times in European competition without ever winning (5).
Arsenal feel sense of destiny ahead of Champions League semi-final
18:08
,
Mike Jones
As Mikel Arteta came out for his pre-match duties before Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final, he was absolutely beaming. You really got the sense of a football figure relishing the occasion, and he certainly set the right tone.
That’s now been the case for two weeks. An ultra-focused Mikel Arteta has particularly sought out David Raya and Mikel Merino. The two played under Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique for Spain, and Arteta and his staff have naturally been keen for any extra insights.
Arteta on the atmosphere at the Emirates
18:00
,
Mike Jones
Mikel Arteta wants the Arsenal fans to bring the best atmosphere to the match tonight and make it feel as though the supporters are playing alongside the players against PSG.
“I told them and I'm not exaggerating when I said bring your boots, bring your shorts, bring your t-shirts and let's play every ball together,” said the Gunners boss.
“We want to do something special, that place has to be something special, something that we haven't seen.
“I really hope that everybody who comes to the Emirates and everybody watching and following us brings that energy with them.”
'We are making history'
17:54
,
Mike Jones
Mikel Arteta says that the circumstances that Arsenal have faced this season, including long term injuries to key players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, makes their run in the Champions League more special.
He revealed that the aim is to win the tournament and make history.
“Especially with the circumstances that we had this season, how we have overcome a lot of issues and challenges and the fact that the team is here as one of the four best teams in Europe,” Arteta said.
“It tells you about the mindset, the spirit and how much we really want it.
“We are making history, it's a beautiful story right now but we want much more.”
The biggest game of Mikel Arteta's life?
17:48
,
Mike Jones
The Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, was asked if tonight’s match felt like the biggest one of his life so far.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference yesterday, Arteta replied: “It does and you sense it, you sense the energy, the enthusiasm that it's something unique.
“It's probably one of the biggest games that the Emirates have seen since we built it.
“We're full of energy, enthusiasm and can't wait to play the game.”
Tonight's match officials
17:41
,
Mike Jones
Slavko Vincic has been handed control of this game between the two sides.
He took charge of the match between them in October and issued just one booking to each team.
The highly-respected Slovenian official was the man in the middle for last season’s Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund and was at the last two European Championships and the 2022 World Cup.
Referee: Slavko Vincic
Assistants: Tomaz Klancnik, Andraz Kovacic
Fourth official: Matej Jug
VAR: Alen Borosak
Assistant VAR: Dennis Higler
'The key will be managing the pressure'
17:33
,
Mike Jones
More from Luis Enrique who spoke about how he plans to get PSG through to the Champions League final.
He added: "These are Champions League semi-finals, but they're still two games between two teams with the same goal. The key will be managing the pressure.
“PSG have never won the Champions League? Neither have Arsenal.
“We mustn't let that stop us from performing at the highest level, we have to keep that in mind but concentrate on what we have to do."
'We're a much better team'
17:27
,
Mike Jones
Paris Saint-Germain boss, Luis Enrique, says that his team are ‘much better’ than when they faced Arsenal earlier in the season.
The Gunners ran out 2-0 winners back in October during the league phase and will hope to do the same tonight.
"I saw the match [back in October] again,” said Enrique, “We're a much better team today.
“We had a very intense group phase, with a lot of games that could have been finals.
“So I think that made things difficult because we were in a difficult position, but it has made us much stronger and we are more complete.”
Rooming with Ronaldinho and European glory: Revisiting Mikel Arteta’s forgotten spell at PSG
17:18
,
Richard Jolly
The last time Paris Saint-Germain won a European trophy, a long-haired Mauricio Pochettino swapped shirts with a long-haired Roberto Baggio.
It was 24 years ago, but another figure looks instantly familiar in the footage. The first substitute PSG brought on that day in 2001 when they beat Baggio’s Brescia still has the same slender build, the same haircut.
Now, if Mikel Arteta gets European silverware for the second time, he will have to overcome the club with which he won his first.
Have your say!
17:09
,
Mike Jones
Who will win tonight’s Champions League semi-final first leg?
Arsenal have home advantage but PSG are a surging force who seem on track to lift the European title for the first time.
Have your say below:
'Arsenal are not favourites to lift trophy'
17:02
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Arsenal are ranked third favourites to win the trophy, according to most bookies, with Barcelona and PSG marginally ahead.
Asked whether Arsenal should be considered favourites to lift Europe's most prestigious club trophy this year, Arteta met reality head-on.
"When you look at the history, no, because we've never done it," he said. "Hopefully, if someone believes we can do it it's because of the performances and what is the team transmitting against big opposition."
More from Arteta
16:39
,
Lawrence Ostlere
"The players are really resonating with what we are doing, and they feel like we can face these guys and be better than them," Arteta said.
"That's the feeling we had against Madrid and in the previous rounds, and that's how we feel today. I look them in the eyes and they can't wait to play tomorrow, that's the feeling."
Arsenal, unbeaten for more than two months across all competitions, will hope to repeat their 2-0 win over PSG in the league phase in October.
"I loved (our) presence, how we went out there, our body language, the intensity, how aggressive we were," Arteta said.
"We played with real belief and determination, and when you're facing big opponents, immediately you need to put a game into that context."
Arteta sets sights beyond PSG test
16:18
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Arsenal have ambitions that extend well beyond reaching the Champions League semi-finals, coach Mikel Arteta said on Monday ahead of the first leg of their last-four tie against French champions Paris St Germain.
"We have overcome a lot of issues and challenges this season, and the fact that the team is here as one of the best four teams in Europe, it says (a lot) about the mindset, the spirit and how much we really want it," Arteta told reporters.
"We are making history, and it's a beautiful story right now, but we want more."
Arteta issues rallying cry to Arsenal fans
16:04
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal fans to bring their 'shirts, shorts and boots' to the Emirates Stadium to carry his players to a maiden Champions League title.
The Gunners will contest their first semi-final on Europe's grandest stage in 16 years when they host Paris St Germain.
Supporters answered Arteta's pre-match call to create a raucous atmosphere for the first leg of their quarter-final against Real Madrid and he hopes for the same this time.
The Spaniard said: "You can sense the energy and the enthusiasm. It is probably one of the biggest games that the Emirates has seen since we built it.
"I told them, and I'm not exaggerating here, 'Guys, bring your boots, bring your shorts, bring your T-shirts, and let's play every ball together. We want to do something special'. That place has to be something that we haven't seen before."
Predicted line-ups
15:47
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Here is how we think the two teams might line up tonight:
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Kvaratshkelia, Doue, Dembele.
PSG team news
15:32
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Luis Enrique is not thought to have any fresh concerns to consider when naming his PSG side. The French capital club have added January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to their squad since a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal during the league phase of the competition.
Arteta's selection dilemma
15:17
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Mikel Arteta was not very happy with Thomas Partey for picking up a yellow card late in the win at the Santiago Bernabeu, which meant the defensive midfielder is ruled out tonight.
Arteta could opt to bring Mikel Merino back into midfield, but that would mean moving the Spaniard from his impressive work as a makeshift No 9, where he has not only been scoring goals but also dropping deep to link play and overrun opposing midfields. It would also mean Declan Rice might have to play in Partey’s defensive role, stifling Rice’s attacking influence.
With Merino in midfield, that would mean deploying Leandro Trossard as the central striker, and while Trossard has been in impressive form in recent weeks, he sometimes finds himself on the periphery in big games.
Another option is to keep Merino up front and bring in another central midfielder, like Myles Lewis-Skelly, with Oleksandr Zinchenko coming into the team at left-back, or Ben White filling in at right-back and Jurrien Timber moving over to the left.
Decisions, decisions for Arteta, but on the bright side at least it makes his team slightly harder for Luis Enrique to predict...
Arsenal team news
15:05
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Thomas Partey is suspended for the first leg after his caution against Real Madrid, with Jorginho’s ongoing absence with a rib injury meaning Declan Rice may have to drop into a deeper role. Riccardo Calafiori could return to bolster Mikel Arteta’s defensive options on the bench. Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz remain out.
Arsenal v PSG
14:58
,
Lawrence Ostlere
A place in the Champions League final is on the line as Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain battle over two legs, starting this evening at the Emirates Stadium.
Fresh from two famous European nights against Real Madrid, Mikel Arteta’s side will be full of confidence as they begin the last-four encounter.
With an alternative destination for the Premier League title now certain, Arsenal can throw full focus on to this competition as they seek the continental crown that eludes them.
They face a tough test against a transformed PSG side that showed glimpses of their brilliance against Aston Villa in the last eight despite a second-leg wobble.
Arsenal v PSG
13:35
,
Lawrence Ostlere
Welcome along to live coverage of Arsenal v PSG as they collide in the first leg of this Champions League semi-final.
