The week of the Champions League semifinals is upon us! The journey to Munich reaches its crucial penultimate stage, featuring a highly anticipated clash between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in the first leg of their tie.
Arsenal`s Long-Awaited Semifinal Return
A series of competitive semifinal contests commences at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal plays host to Paris Saint-Germain in a fascinating first-leg encounter.
This match marks Arsenal`s return to the Champions League semifinals after a 16-year absence. They navigated the quarterfinal hurdle impressively, dismantling reigning champions Real Madrid with a convincing 5-1 aggregate victory. Their performance against Real Madrid highlighted the significant progress made under manager Mikel Arteta and showcased their robust defensive setup, widely regarded as their primary asset on their path towards Munich.
As analyst James Benge observed, Arsenal`s defense is exceptionally strong. While another team might have conceded fewer goals, few limit their opponents` attacking threat as effectively. Defensive metrics confirm Arsenal`s elite status, significantly restricting expected goals, penalty box touches, and total shots conceded compared to other semifinalists, even after facing Real Madrid`s formidable attack.
Arteta was right to describe the Real Madrid quarterfinals as potentially the most crucial matches of his managerial tenure. However, the route to the final presents an even tougher challenge. Paris Saint-Germain is arguably the most difficult opponent left in Europe, potentially more so than a Real Madrid side that had shown vulnerabilities this season. Nevertheless, Arsenal`s dominant display against Los Blancos has reassured observers following their failure to secure domestic silverware. The critical question now is how well the Gunners can withstand PSG`s unique pressure.
For Arsenal enthusiasts, the dream scenario is reaching Munich next month. However, there`s also a possibility of not advancing while still being considered one of Europe`s premier teams. For a club with lofty aspirations, a delicate balance must be struck: is simply performing at a high level sufficient, or is a trophy essential to validate their journey?
Paris Saint-Germain`s Time to Live Up to the Hype
The last time Paris Saint-Germain visited the Emirates Stadium, they left with a 2-0 defeat in October, a result that seemed to confirm the French champions were in a transitional phase. This wasn`t entirely unexpected, as manager Luis Enrique had hinted that the initial period after Kylian Mbappe`s departure would be dedicated to integrating younger players. Six months have certainly brought about a significant transformation.
Following substantial activity in the winter transfer window and the adoption of Enrique`s distinct pressing philosophy, PSG has become one of Europe`s most dynamic teams and an unexpected strong contender for the Champions League crown. Thierry Henry even suggested they would be a more challenging opponent for Arsenal than Real Madrid. Enrique`s tactical blueprint is considered pivotal to their successful run, making them, as James Benge points out, particularly hard to defeat.
According to James Benge, Luis Enrique`s PSG now feels like a genuine “real team,” unlike during certain periods since the Qatari takeover. Their style of play is now driven by the midfield, with forwards interchanging fluidly. However, their strength is most evident when they are out of possession. Their defensive pressure is intense, demonstrated by their low PPDA (passes allowed per defensive action) which ranks among the competition`s best, their high number of ball recoveries in the opponent`s half, and their success in defensive duels.
While facing PSG represents potentially Arsenal`s toughest test in the Champions League so far, the reverse could also be argued. Arsenal`s defining quarterfinal moment came against Real Madrid, whereas PSG`s significant win in the round of 16 was against Liverpool, another strong side albeit with flaws. Their quarterfinal tie against Aston Villa did raise some questions. Consequently, the semifinal against Arsenal will serve as the real gauge of this revitalized PSG team`s potential and could establish future expectations for this developing squad.
