Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven predictions: Gunners can grind out another victory
- PSV have not won any of their last 12 Champions League group stage matches
- Seven of Arsenal's last ten competitive games have featured less than three goals
- Recommended bet: Arsenal and under 3.5 goals
Arsenal have spent six seasons away from the top tier of European football and will be looking to make up for lost time when facing PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium.
The teams will be familiar with each other having taken part in the same Europa League section last season, with Arsenal chalking up a 1-0 success in north London and PSV securing a 2-0 victory at the Philips Stadion.
They are both looking to build on strong starts to their domestic campaigns.
Arsenal are fourth in the Premier League with 13 points from a possible 15, while PSV lead the way in the Eredivisie with maximum points from four fixtures.
Team news
Mikel Arteta will be forced to make at least one change with Leandro Trossard expected to slot in for injured attacker Gabriel Martinelli.
And he has another couple of key decisions to ponder with Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya vying for the goalkeeper's jersey and Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah contesting the central striker position.
Thomas Partey (groin), Jurrien Timber and Mohamed Elneny (both knee) are sidelined.
PSV are waiting on the fitness of Noa Lang, who was withdrawn in the early stages of the second half of Saturday's 4-0 success at home to NEC Nijmegen.
Mauro Junior, Armando Bispo (both knee) and Fredrik Oppegard (unspecified injury) are unavailable and Jordan Teze (knock) is a doubt.
The stats
Arsenal have won four of five Premier League games this season although three of those victories were by a single goal margin.
The Gunners have scored more than two goals in just two of their last ten matches.
PSV have not won any of their last 12 Champions League group stage fixtures.
However, they have triumphed in eight of nine matches this season, scoring 27 goals in the process.
The Dutch outfit have netted at least two goals in each of their last eight fixtures.
Prediction
Arsenal have had to work hard for each of their four Premier League wins this season and can start their Champions League challenge with a low-scoring victory over PSV Eindhoven.
There will be plenty of respect between the teams, who crossed paths in last season's Europa League group stage.
PSV suffered a single-goal defeat when visiting the Emirates Stadium in October 2022 and they will be hoping for a different outcome on their first Champions League group stage outing since 2018.
However, their first XI looks weaker than last season, with key attacker Xavi Simons sold to Paris Saint-Germain and midfielder Ibrahima Sangare sealing a deadline day switch to Nottingham Forest.
PSV have shrugged aside those departures to seal a pair of 4-0 league victories away to RKC Waalwijk and at home to NEC Nijmegen, but the trip to north London represents a big step up in class.
Arsenal will fancy their chances of getting the victory, but it might not be plain sailing.
They laboured to a 1-0 victory over Everton at the weekend and might have to settle for another modest success.
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