PSV vs Arsenal tips and predictions: PSV to avenge Emirates defeat in dead rubber
- George Dempsey
- 11 December 2023
PSV Eindhoven will welcome Arsenal to the Philips Stadion for a dead rubber in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Just three days Arsenal saw their three-game winning streak ended by Aston Villa, the Gunners will make the short hop over to Eindhoven for a Champions League clash.
While Arsenal were thrashing Lens 6-0 at the Emirates, the Dutch side came from 2-0 down to secure a late win in Seville.
Those two results render this clash pointless with Arsenal confirmed as group winners and PSV guaranteed second place.
On average, Mikael Arteta’s side will play every four days until year's end while PSV have to cram three games into nine days before their winter break.
This would have been a scintillating showdown if anything was on the line, but it isn’t. Both teams could do without the fixture, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be entertaining.
Peter Bosz’s side have been rattling in 2.87 goals per game since losing 4-0 to Arsenal, a run which includes a 5-2 thrashing of Ajax.
Before the defeat at Villa Park, Arsenal’s previous three games featured 16 goals.
Both sides will make changes to protect themselves ahead of crucial games on the weekend, but whoever starts should embrace the freedom to express themselves.
Lens became just the third team to hold PSV to fewer than two goals on this ground in 2023, but that game was a crucial one. They’ve scored two or more in 22 of 25
Arsenal’s shambolic away performances are a thing of the past thanks to Arteta, but they have conceded 13 in their previous seven which is a concern.
Four of those games were lost while they had to rely on late shows at Chelsea, Brentford and Luton. In a game that doesn’t matter, you’d have to say they look vulnerable and PSV may be worth backing.
Team news
Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey, Emile Smithe Rowe and Fabio Viera are ruled out due to injury.
Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior and Mohamed Elneny may be among the names to start for the Gunners.
Peter Bosz will be without Noa Lang and Hirving Lozano on Thursday, depriving him of a significant attacking threat, but Ricardo Pepi could be handed a start.
Key stats
- PSV are looking to avenge the 4-0 defeat they suffered at the Emirates
- PSV haven’t lost a competitive game at Philips Stadion since November 2022
- PSV beat Arsenal 2-0 in the Europa League last season
- Arsenal have failed to win five of their previous eight away games
- Arsenal have conceded in seven and scored in six of those eight games
