Arsenal are set to face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League round of 16.
The Gunners have had almost a week to mull over their dull draw against Nottingham Forest, with Mikel Arteta surely spending the time off working out how to resolve his team’s offensive issues.
The Premier League title now looks out of the North Londoners’ grasp, meaning the Champions League has taken on extra importance.
PSV have several dangerous players in their ranks who can threaten the most resolute defences in the world, and they certainly won’t be prepared to roll over for Arsenal.
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Ivan Perisic says Arsenal are ‘missing something’ ahead of Champions League tie
Peter Bosz’ side haven’t won any of their last four league games, although they remain second in the Eredivisie and comfortably dispatched Juventus in the last round of the Champions League.
Arsenal will have to be wary of Ivan Perisic, who will be out to hurt the Gunners after playing for Tottenham between 2022 and 2024.
The 36-year-old winger joined PSV on a free transfer in September after leaving Croatian side Hajduk Split, and has enjoyed a relatively productive season thus far in the Netherlands
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Perisic gave PSV a ‘good chance’ of beating Arsenal over two legs, while also aiming a subtle dig at Arteta’s men.
“It’s going to be tough,” he said. “They are a really, really good team, a young team with a good coach.
“But, in the last few years, they’ve always been missing something to step up to win something. We have to be ready.
“I know that we’re going to have a good chance to beat them tomorrow, and I really believe in my team. Like I said, we trained well today.
“Tactically, we’ll have to be on the top level to show something against them.”
The return leg takes place at the Emirates next Wednesday.
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PSV’s form heading into Arsenal clash
It’s been an up and down season for PSV, who currently sit eight points adrift of Eredivisie leaders Ajax.
The Eindhoven side cruised through the Champions League league phase, finishing 14th in the 36-team table.
They then defeated Juventus over two legs, beating the Old Lady 4-3 on aggregate.
Since the victory over the Italian giants, PSV have lost their last two matches, crashing out of the Dutch Cup at the hands of Go Ahead Eagles, before losing to the same opposition in the league a few days later.
These results compounded a poor run of form for Bosz’ team, as they’ve not won any of their last four league games, conceding nine goals in the process.
Arsenal need to capitalise on what could potentially be a nervous atmosphere inside the Phillips Stadion on Wednesday night by getting at their opponents early on.
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