BY JERRY MOREL TAKOU NGUELO
Day two of the new Swiss-format Champions League is set to light up on Tuesday night, with an array of exciting matchups. While fixtures like Leverkusen vs Milan promise thrills, the spotlight is firmly on Arsenal taking on Paris Saint-Germain. This is not a fixture we see often, with their last encounters dating back to the 2016-2017 season, when both clubs were drawn into Group A. In those meetings, neither team could get the better of the other, with both matches ending in draws — a tense 1-1 in Paris where Marco Verratti and Olivier Giroud were sent off, followed by a 2-2 draw in London.
Despite topping the group, Arsenal’s campaign unravelled when they were demolished 10-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich in the round of 16. Meanwhile, PSG, after a 4-0 first leg win over Barcelona, experienced the infamous “remontada,” losing 6-1 at the Camp Nou. Both teams would rather forget that campaign, but eight years later, they meet again in vastly different circumstances.
Arsenal now stands as one of the most formidable forces in English football, consistently closing the gap on Manchester City as Premier League title contenders. PSG, on the other hand, are in a period of transition. Kylian Mbappé has departed for Real Madrid, and club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has declared an end to the “bling-bling” era. No more star signings on astronomical wages; instead, PSG, like Arsenal, are focusing on nurturing young talent. Their opening Ligue 1 match against Montpellier showcased this shift, with an average squad age of just 24.3 years, including academy gems like Warren Zaïre-Emery (18) and top scorer Bradley Barcola (22).
This youth revolution mirrors Arsenal’s approach, where academy graduates have become central to Mikel Arteta’s vision. Bukayo Saka has longbeen a key player, but this season alone, several Hale End products such as Ethan Nwaneri (17), Jack Porter (16), and Myles Lewis-Skelly (18)have already made appearances.
PSG is attempting a similar evolution, with their famous “Titis” — local academy talents — now stepping into the limelight. Alongside Zaïre-Emery, names like Senny Mayulu (18) and Naoufel El Hannach (17) are part of this next generation.
Both clubs have recognised the importance of youthful squads in today’s game, where the relentless pace and intensity often overwhelm ageing teams. This has been a particular problem for PSG in the past, who struggled with a squad filled with stars in the twilight of their careers. Arsenal, on the other hand, have hit their stride, playing with a maturity and precision that PSG are yet to achieve under Luis Enrique.
The Parisians have struggled in their build-up play, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma looking uncomfortable with the ball at his feet, and none of their centre-backs particularly adept at playing out from the back. The burden has often fallen on Vitinha or new signing João Neves to drop deep and relieve the pressure. While this trio of Vitinha, Neves, and Zaïre-Emery excels in movement and understanding, they lack physical presence, especially by Premier League standards. At 5’7″, 5’8″, and 5’10” respectively, PSG’s midfield could be overpowered by the likes of Declan Rice or Thomas Partey, much as they were against Newcastle last year in a similar encounter.
Donnarumma’s issues are not limited to his footwork either. Despite his imposing frame, he has shown vulnerability when coming off his line, particularly during set pieces — a weakness PSG have been punished for in previous campaigns. Arsenal’s proficiency from corners and set-pieces could be a decisive factor, given PSG’s struggles in this area.
Offensively, PSG are also weakened by the absence of Ousmane Dembélé, sidelined for disciplinary reasons. The electric winger’s unpredictability and flair could have posed a real threat to Arsenal’s defence. In his absence, Barcola has stepped up admirably, improving his finishing and becoming a key figure in PSG’s attack. However, the striker position remains a question mark. Gonçalo Ramos started brightly but has been sidelined with injury, while Randal Kolo Muani has struggled to find his feet and seems more suited to a wide role than leading the line. Marc Asensio is expected to start as a false nine, a role that doesn’t seem ideal against what some have hailed as the best centre-back pairing in Europe — William Saliba and Gabriel.
Ultimately, Arsenal are much further along in their project, with Arteta’s philosophy now fully integrated into a team that exudes confidence and cohesion. PSG, while filled with talent, are still finding their way under Luis Enrique. Arsenal’s strengths — physicality, set-piece dominance, and tactical discipline — appear to directly target PSG’s weaknesses. Football is unpredictable, but with Arsenal firing on all cylinders, even without captain Martin Ødegaard, PSG may struggle to pull off an upset at the Emirates.
