Less than 12 months after the last one, it's time for another Arsenal vs PSV H2H!
Fresh off the back of a hard-fought 1-0 Sunday victory at Goodison Park, Arsenal welcome PSV to the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night in their opening UEFA Champions League encounter. It is the first time that the Gunners have played in the competition for over six years, while the visitors last tasted the group stage in the 2018/19 season.
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Arsenal vs PSV H2H Record
There have been eight previous Arsenal vs PSV H2H clashes in history, with six battles in the Champions League and two coming in the UEFA Europa League, with both of the latter being played only last autumn. The North London outfit just edge it in terms of wins:
- Arsenal wins: 3
- Draws: 3
- PSV wins: 2
They first met in 2002 as Arsenal thrashed their opponents 4-0 away from home, with Gilberto Silva scoring one of the fastest goals in Champions League history, netting after just 20 seconds.
Incidentally, they have only met in the knockout stage once, where PSV triumphed 2-1 on aggregate in their most recent encounter in Europe's top competition.
Last time out…
Both teams are familiar with each other despite not playing in the same domestic league, having faced off in the Europa League last term. Arsenal won the home game 1-0, and topped the group overall, but PSV beat them 2-0 in the reverse fixture.
Luuk De Jong grabbed a goal and an assist in that late October match, while imposing what was only Arsenal's second defeat of the season across all competitions.
Arsenal vs PSV H2H: Potential MVP
Due to their club's six-year absence from Europe's top table, few Arsenal players actually have experience of playing Champions League football, but Martin Odegaard is one of them. Once a Real Madrid prodigy, the 24-year-old has quickly matured into a leader in North London, and holds the captain's armband with an iron grip.
Odegaard was an integral part of Arsenal's UCL return via the runners up spot last term, with 15 goals and eight assists in the division from midfield. Alongside his European experience, he has also faced PSV seven times prior, after spending three campaigns on loan in the Netherlands while at Madrid.
Odegaard has started off this season well, with two goals in his opening appearances – including one in the 3-1 win against Manchester United – and the Norwegian will be looking to lead by example once more against PSV.
Arsenal: Players in focus
David Raya – Will he play in Europe?
After his clean sheet against Everton at the weekend, Arteta could look to Raya in European action as well, with the Gunners having an option to make his loan deal from Brentford permanent next summer.
Declan Rice – The £105m anchor
Rice will get his first taste of Champions League football since his mega £105m move from West Ham United this summer, and already has a European trophy to his name having won the UEFA Europa Conference League title in the previous campaign.
Bukayo Saka – The starboy
A Hale End graduate turned young superstar, 22-year-old Saka (pictured below) will have the chance to show the world how good he is as he plays in the competition for the first time.
PSV: Players in focus
Armel Bella-Kotchap – A familiar foe
Once identified as a FM 2021 wonderkid, Bella-Kotchap has only recently signed for PSV on loan from Southampton, and Arsenal will be familiar with his ability as – despite the Saints' relegation – the Gunners failed to beat the Hampshire side in both league H2Hs of 2022/23.
Hirving Lozano – A welcome homecoming
‘Chucky' Lozano has returned to PSV after joining Napoli four years ago, and the Mexican is loved in the Netherlands, having scored 40 goals and made 23 assists in 79 previous appearances.
Luuk De Jong – The danger man
De Jong scored and assisted in the most recent Arsenal vs PSV H2H, and the veteran already has 12 goal contributions to his name this term.
Final prediction
Arsenal will naturally be the clear favourites of the two, having topped their shared Europa League group last season, but PSV will not roll over for them. The Dutch giants are unbeaten in all competitions this campaign, and the Gunners are yet to keep a clean sheet at home.
Thus, expect a narrow home victory, but PSV to still cause some problems.
We're saying 2-1 to Arsenal, with Odegaard to score or assist.
