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Team news
PSV (4-3-3): Benítez; Ledezma, Flamingo, Boscagli, Malacia; Saibari, Schouten, Til; Perisic, Luuk de Jong (c), Lang.
Substitutes: Drommel, Schiks, Karsdorp, Obispo, Bakayoko, Driouech, Veerman, Babadi, Land, Nagalo.
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Ødegaard; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard.
Substitutes: Neto, Setford, Tierney, White, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Sterling, Calafiori, Butler-Oyedeji, Kabia.
The story so far: Arsenal made serene progress from the Champions League’s opening 36-team Royal Rumble, beating PSG, Shakhtar, Sporting Lisbon, Monaco, Dinamo Zagreb and Girona on their way to a third-place finish. The only blots on their record came on away days in Italy – drawing 0-0 with Atalanta and losing 1-0 to Inter at San Siro.
As for PSV, they started slowly, losing to Juventus and drawing with PSG and Sporting before getting their first win at home to Girona. A remarkable late fightback saw them beat Shakhtar 3-2 from 2-0 down in the 86th minute, and although they then lost to Brest, wins at Red Star Belgrade and at home to a rotated Liverpool saw them through in 14th place.
Drawn against Juve again, PSV lost 2-1 in Turin but won the return leg 3-1 in extra time to advance. Feyenoord’s victory over Milan means that two Dutch teams are in the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time since 2005-06 (PSV and Ajax).
In the early kick-off, Aston Villa got off to a flying start through Leon Bailey, but have been pegged back by Club Brugge. It’s 1-1 at half-time, and you can join Will Unwin for that game:
Preamble
Out of both domestic cups and 13 points behind Liverpool in the title race, the Champions League now represents Arsenal’s best chance at a trophy this season. After finishing third in the 36-team league phase, they should be considered among the favourites, but their potential path through the draw is a tough one.
Should Arsenal get past PSV over two legs, a showdown with either Real or Atlético Madrid awaits Mikel Arteta’s depleted squad. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Tonight’s opponents may have wobbled in the league, slipping behind leaders Ajax in Arsenalesque fashion, but they dispatched Juventus in the playoffs to get here.
There is also some previous to consider between the two clubs; Arteta has taken on PSV four times in Europe with decidedly mixed results – 1-0, 0-2, 4-0 and 1-1. Back in 2007, the Dutch side dumped Arsène Wenger’s mob out of the Champions League at this stage, adding another few stitches to the rich tapestry of Arsenal’s continental woes.
Can Arteta and his players begin rewriting that story tonight, in the Round of Arsenal? Eindhoven is 450 miles from Munich, and the final feels even further away – but every journey starts with a small step. Kick-off is at 8pm GMT, 9pm local time.
