Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
The first semi-final of the UEFA Champions League will see Arsenal, the surprise package of the previous round, face Paris Saint-Germain, who even Liverpool could not stop. It is also a clash between Spanish managers, both deeply rooted in the Barcelona philosophy.
Arsenal
For Mikel Arteta, overcoming Real Madrid was a particularly satisfying achievement. After a dominant display in London, it appeared that Arsenal would ease off with the tie almost secured, but they managed to win again in Madrid. The only goal they conceded across both legs came from an individual mistake and a defender’s slow reaction when attempting to catch the opposition offside. Such incidents are inevitable. At the Santiago Bernabéu, Arsenal were even more threatening than Real Madrid, posting 2.05-1.41 in xG, and creating three clear-cut chances to the hosts' one. The team also handled Kylian Mbappé effectively, who could have been their opponent at Paris Saint-Germain. However, it is now Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who brings pace and creativity to the French side.
Paris Saint-Germain
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia might even be more dangerous than Kylian Mbappé in certain aspects. Rather than relentlessly charging forward, he constantly creates opportunities. In our opinion, his mentality is even stronger than Kylian Mbappé’s. It’s also crucial not to overlook Ousmane Dembélé, whose revival has significantly bolstered Paris Saint-Germain’s overall quality this season. Recent domestic results for Paris Saint-Germain should not be over-analysed — they have already wrapped up the league title, which explains their dip in intensity. The UEFA Champions League remains their primary focus.
Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain Prediction
The two sides faced each other during the group stage of this UEFA Champions League campaign. On that occasion, at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal secured a 2:0 victory. At that point in mid-autumn, Paris Saint-Germain were far from their best and had several other setbacks as well. Meanwhile, Arsenal have continued to find the net consistently, even without Kai Havertz. Paris Saint-Germain boast a lively and dynamic attacking unit, and the addition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia since autumn has further enhanced their firepower. We expect both sides to score.
