PSV Eindhoven play host to Arsenal in the Champions League tonight for the first leg of their last-16 match up. The Gunners hope to secure a win and take a crucial lead back to the Emirates for next week’s deciding leg.
Mikel Arteta’s men have fallen 13 points behind Liverpool in the race for the Premier League title and their best chance of winning silverware this season now lies in Europe with Arteta making winning the Champions League the priority for his team.
The Gunners lost just one of their league phase matches and finished third in the table making them one of the favourites, along with Liverpool and Real Madrid, to lift the trophy at the end of the season.
PSV, meanwhile, came through the play-offs and earned a 4-3 aggregate win over Juventus to knock the Serie A giants out of the competition. They are second to Ajax in the Eredivisie yet were knocked out of the KNVB Cup over two legs by Go Ahead Eagles in their two most recent outings.
Follow all the Champions League action with our live blog below:
PSV vs Arsenal LIVE
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PSV host Arsenal in the Champions League last-16 | Live on Amazon Prime Video
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43′ GOAL! PSV pull one back from penalty spot after Partey foul in box (PSV 1-3 ARS)
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31 GOAL! Mikel Merino pounces on mistake in PSV defence to add third (PSV 0-3 ARS)
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21′ GOAL! Ethan Nwaneri steers in Myles Lewis-Skelly cross to double lead (PSV 0-2 ARS)
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17′ GOAL! Jurrien Timber leaps at back post to meet Declan Rice’s cross (PSV 0-1 ARS)
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15′ OFF THE POST! Arsenal survive major scare as Saibari hits crossbar (PSV 0-0 ARS)
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Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard.
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PSV XI: Benitez, Ledezma, Flamingo, Boscagli, Malacia; Schouten, Saibari; Perisic, Til, Lang; de Jong.
PSV 1-3 Arsenal
20:44 , Chris Wilson
44 mins
What a first half this is.
It’s great work from Rice again as he works the space on the left and drills a low effort that forces a great save from Benitez to tip it past the post.
GOAL! PSV 1-3 Arsenal
20:44 , Chris Wilson
43 mins
GOAL!
Noa Lang steps up and it’s an emphatic effort, blasted into the right-hand side past a still Raya.
PENALTY TO PSV! PSV 0-3 Arsenal
20:43 , Chris Wilson
41 mins
Arsenal were looking exceptionally comfortable but they’ve given the hosts a way back into it!
Perisic wins a corner and when the delivery comes in, Partey drags down de Jong, with his hand and arm around the Dutchman’s neck.
It’s given and Partey is booked.
PSV 0-3 Arsenal
20:39 , Chris Wilson
38 mins
PSV have had their first meaningful attack since hitting the bar and conceding three but it comes to nothing. It hasn’t clicked for that front three at all.
PSV 0-3 Arsenal
20:38 , Richard Jolly
Tie over? It feels that way. Everything has gone Arsenal’s way, from PSV missing an open goal to Lewis-Skelly avoiding a second yellow card to some utterly hapless PSV defending allowing Mikel Merino to make it 3-0.
GOAL GIVEN! PSV 0-3 Arsenal
20:35
33 mins
There’s a fairly lengthy VAR check and the goal is given! A nightmare from PSV.
Lewis-Skelly comes off for Riccardo Calafiori. Probably sensible from Arteta that.
GOAL! PSV 0-3 Arsenal
20:33 , Chris Wilson
31 mins
GOAL! That could be the tie done already.
It’s a messy goal but they’ll take it!
Timber’s shot is blocked and then he’s tackled, and there are three bodies on the floor, two of which are PSV players.
Timber wrestles for the ball on the floor and gets up before trying to put another shot in, and he falls again before the PSV player fails to clear and the ball rolls to Merino, who is about five yards out and simply taps it past Benitz into the corner.
There is a VAR check though, as Merino had strayed offside. It all depends on whether the action form the PSV player is considered a deliberate action to play the ball.
PSV 0-2 Arsenal
20:28 , Chris Wilson
27 mins
There’s potential trouble for Lewis-Skelly here as he flies into another mis-timed challenge, but he avoids the booking.
Mark Clattenburg on comms says that it wasn’t enough for a second booking, though he definitely would’ve received a booking if he hadn’t already been booked. A strange scenario.
He’s fortunate nonetheless, and nothing comes of the free-kick.
PSV 0-2 Arsenal
20:24 , Chris Wilson
24 mins
Ethan Nwaneri is now the third-youngest player to score a goal in this competition’s knockout phase.
But now Lewis-Skelly is booked as he drags down Luuk de Jong, and the hosts have a free-kick in a dangerous area near the edge of the box.
GOAL! PSV 0-2 Arsenal
20:23 , Chris Wilson
22 mins
GOAL! And the visitors have a hold now.
It’s great movement in the box, as Trossard wriggles between tackles before finding Lewis-Skelly in the box.
He makes space for the cross and looks up to see Nwaneri making the run to the near post, and he rolls it into his path before Nwaneri lashes an effort into the top corner!
PSV 0-1 Arsenal
20:21 , Chris Wilson
21 mins
Arsenal respond to going ahead by working another great crossing chance, but this time Trossard’s ball in has a little too much on it for Odegaard.
GOAL! PSV 0-1 Arsenal
20:20 , Richard Jolly
A couple of minutes that already look a potential turning point in this tie with Ismail Saibari slamming a shot against the bar when he perhaps should have scored and then Jurrien Timber heading Arsenal ahead to become just their second player to score in the last five games.
GOAL! PSV 0-1 Arsenal
20:19 , Chris Wilson
18 mins
GOAL! The visitors go up the other end and how they’re ahead!
It’s brilliant work from Declan Rice, who takes the pass in the box from Trossard and beats his man to make space for the cross. He clips a brilliant ball towards the back post and Jurrien Timber is there to rise above the defender and head in for 1-0!
OFF THE BAR! PSV 0-0 Arsenal
20:17 , Chris Wilson
16 mins
Plenty of high pressure from Arsenal when the hosts do have the ball in their half, but they escape it.
The hosts move the ball quickly up the other end and Lang threads a ball to the overlapping Perisic, who fizzes in a cross that Raya palms away. It falls to Saibari around eight yards out, with an almost open goal as Raya is sprawling, but the midfielder smashes an effort against the underside of the bar!
Good pressure from Gabriel to close the angle but the PSV man should score.
PSV 0-0 Arsenal
20:14 , Chris Wilson
14 mins
Another foray into the box from Arsenal ends with Merino unable to pick a pass.
We’re starting to see sustained pressure from the Gunners now.
PSV do win a free-kick in a fairly dangerous position, but it’s cleared easily.
PSV 0-0 Arsenal
20:12 , Chris Wilson
12 mins
The ball is in the net but it’s instantly disallowed as Rice has strayed offside.
Nevertheless it was a brilliant effort from the England midfielder, taking the ball near the edge of the box and fizzing a low shot into the far corner.
PSV 0-0 Arsenal
20:11 , Chris Wilson
10 mins
The check is over and the penalty shout is waved away.
It was great work from Arsenal initially, with Odegaard picking the ball up on the edge of the area before turning his marker. He made his way into the area to shoot but it looks like his leg is clipped and he hits the ground before taking the shot.
Replays aren’t too clear but it was an ‘accidental collision’ apparently.
PSV 0-0 Arsenal
20:09 , Chris Wilson
9 mins
Shouts for a penalty after some great work from Odegaard. It looked interesting at first glance, and there’s a check underway…
PSV 0-0 Arsenal
20:07 , Chris Wilson
6 mins
The ball broke to Lang in a dangerous area there but his pass into Perisic was so poor.
Neither side has been able to keep meaningful possession so far really.
Nwaneri does float a great cross to the back post, but there’s nobody on the end of it.
PSV 0-0 Arsenal
20:04 , Chris Wilson
4 mins
Some early exchanges of possession and it’s clear PSV will look to attack Arsenal early on.
Lang tries to run around Saliba but the Frenchman is equal to it.
PSV 0-0 Arsenal
20:03 , Chris Wilson
2 mins
Plenty of noise around the stadium as the game begins, with both sides trying to feel their way into the game.
No chances yet, but Odegaard does go pretty close to latching onto a great pass that would’ve seen him 1-v-1 with Benitez.
KICK-OFF! PSV 0-0 Arsenal
20:00 , Chris Wilson
The away side get us underway at the Philips Stadion!
A big test ahead for Arsenal, but one you’d expect them to triumph in.
PSV vs Arsenal team news and how to watch
19:58
PSV XI: Benitez, Ledezma, Flamingo, Boscagli, Malacia; Schouten, Saibari; Perisic, Til, Lang; de Jong.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the game live on Amazon Prime Video.
Why some PSV fans are wearing fancy dress for Arsenal Champions League match
19:57 , Chris Wilson
PSV Eindhoven have told their fans that they are welcome to wear fancy dress to the stadium if attending tonight’s Champions League match with Arsenal.
The Dutch city is currently hosting its carnival celebrations, with the week-long festivities due to end Tuesday night. These celebrations take place every year in the days immediately preceding Ash Wednesday and Lent.
Carnival brings celebrations and many revellers a number of European cities every year, and as a result Eindhoven has welcomed many festival-goers ahead of tonight’s game.
Why some PSV fans are wearing fancy dress for Arsenal Champions League match
PSV vs Arsenal LIVE
19:55 , Chris Wilson
Both sides are in the tunnel at the Philips Stadion, so we’re around five minutes from kick-off. The anthem will be underway soon!
PSV vs Arsenal LIVE
19:50 , Chris Wilson
Arsenal’s Champions League journey continues
19:45 , Chris Wilson
After a few years in the wilderness of the Europa League – and some not even in European competition – Mikel Arteta returned Arsenal to the Champions League ahead of the 23/24 season.
However, their journey ended in disappointment as they exited the competition at the quarter-final stage.
Arsenal’s best performance came in 2005/06, when they were beaten in the final 2-1 by Barcelona.
Match facts
19:40 , Chris Wilson
Arsenal have only lost one of their last 14 games against Dutch sides in the UEFA Champions League.
The Gunners have won each of their last four games in the UEFA Champions League, scoring 13 goals and only conceding twice in the process.
Mikel Arteta’s side have the lowest xG against per game average (0.73) in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Why Arsenal should believe they can win the Champions League
19:33 , Chris Wilson
Inside the Philips Stadion, there are reminders of PSV Eindhoven’s past, celebrations of former centre-forwards such as Romario, Ronaldo Nazario and Ruud van Nistelrooy who have graced the club and tormented defenders. As he walked along the corridors between the executive suites, Mikel Arteta could have been given a reminder of what he is missing.
It is carnival week in Eindhoven and plenty of people are descending on the Dutch city in fancy dress. Whether any have come in the garb of an Arsenal goalscorer or will impersonate a striker, even for a night, remains to be seen. The probability is that Mikel Merino will be leading the line for Arsenal in the Netherlands; the scorer of the Gunners’ only goals in their last four games but a midfielder by trade. With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus injured, with Gabriel Martinelli only on the way back, with Raheem Sterling’s only goal this season coming against Preston, it may be Merino in attack.
Why Arsenal should believe they can win the Champions League
Match facts
19:27 , Chris Wilson
Arsenal are unbeaten in their five home matches in European competitions against PSV (W3 D2) – the most home games they’ve played against an opponent in European competition without ever losing.
This will be the second time Arsenal have faced PSV in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, after being eliminated by the Dutch side in the Last 16 in 2006-07 (lost 0-1 away, drew 1-1 at home).
Who could Arsenal face in the route to the final?
19:20 , Chris Wilson
With the tournament bracket already published in this new variation of the Champions League, fans already have a rough idea of the teams they could face on the route to May’s final.
In Arsenal’s case, if they were to progress from this tie, they would face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.
And it doesn’t necessarily get any easier from there, with the Gunners then facing one of Liverpool, PSG, Villa or Club Brugge in the semi-finals!
Head-to-head
19:15 , Chris Wilson
These two sides have faced off 10 times in European competition in the past, with Arsenal winning four, four ending as draws, and the Dutch side winning two.
They met in the group stages of last season’s competition, with Arsenal winning 4-0 at home before a 1-1 draw at the Philips Stadion.
The most recent win for PSV in this fixture came in October 2022, when the Dutch side won 2-0 in the group stages of the Europa League.
At this same stage in 2006/07, PSV beat the Gunners 2-1 on aggregate, with Chelsea loanee Alex securing a 1-1 draw at the Emirates.
Saka and Martinelli to return soon?
19:10 , Chris Wilson
Last week, Mikel Arteta said that he was expecting a concrete update on return dates for Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka – both of whom would of course be vital to any chances the Gunners have of winning this competition.
Speaking last Thursday, Arteta said: “Let’s see how they evolve in the next few weeks to make the right steps and then after that, they’ve been out for a long, long time, so we’re going to have to integrate them as well gradually.
“They are evolving well but they’re still a bit far,” added the Spaniard.
Mikel Merino leads the line for misfiring Arsenal
19:04 , Richard Jolly
A big night for two Mikels: Arteta’s season increasingly rests on the Champions League, with Arsenal likely to finish second in the Premier League and very unlikely to drop out of the top four, and Merino, who again leads the line in Eindhoven tonight for a side who have not scored in three of their last four games. Merino got the goals in the other match, at Leicester. There is a carrot of a trip to Madrid, whether Real or Atletico, if Arsenal can see off PSV in what is becoming a very familiar rivalry.
Team news
19:00 , Chris Wilson
For Arsenal, Arteta has made two changes to the side that drew 0-0 to Forest last time out.
In defence, Miles Lewis-Skelly returns in place of Riccardo Calafiori at left-back, while in midfield, Thomas Partey replaces Jorginho.
Mikel Merino leads the line once again, with Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard on the wings.
Team news
18:57 , Chris Wilson
For Arsenal, Arteta has made two changes to the side that drew 0-0 to Forest last time out.
In defence, Miles Lewis-Skelly returns in place of Riccardo Calafiori at left-back, while in midfield, Thomas Partey replaces Jorginho.
Mikel Merino leads the line once again, with Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard on the wings.
Team news
18:56 , Chris Wilson
There is just one change for PSV tonight, with former Spurs man Ivan Perisic coming in for Johan Bakayoko.
PSV line-up
18:52 , Chris Wilson
PSV XI: Benitez, Ledezma, Flamingo, Boscagli, Malacia; Schouten, Til; Perisic, Saibari, Lang; de Jong.
Subs: Drommel, Schiks, Obispo, Karsdorp, Nagalo, Veerman, Babadi, Land, Bakayoko, Driouech.
Arsenal line-up
18:46 , Chris Wilson
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard.
Subs: Neto, Setford, White, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Tierney, Calafiori, Jorginho, Sterling, Kabia, Butler-Oyedeji.
⚫️ 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🔴
🔙 Lewis-Skelly returns to the XI
🔁 Partey back in midfield
🤝 Merino continues up topLet’s make it happen, Gunners ✊
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 4, 2025
Team news
18:35 , Chris Wilson
The line-ups should be released in the next 10 minutes or so, so here’s a reminder of the early team news…
Arsenal have had almost a week off since their draw with Forest, and there were no new injury concerns for Mikel Arteta after that match. Miles Lewis-Skelly is free to return to the side in European competition, so he could feature again.
With news that Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss the rest of the season, Arsenal continue to be short of options in key positions. In addition, this match will come too soon for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, with neither expected back until next month.
For PSV, former Barcelona full-back Sergino Dest is expected to return this month, though this match may come too soon. Centre-back Ricardo Pepi and midfielder Malik Tillman are the long-term absentees for the Dutch side.
The Champions League returns and its flaws leave an unintended benefit
18:25 , Chris Wilson
There are a lot of elite footballers who still have the Champions Leaguetheme as their ringtone, and some will be actively playing it on the way to stadiums. Familiarity hasn’t dulled excitement. It’s fair to say that isn’t really from the relative laboriousness of the group stage, but rather the exquisite energy of the knockouts.
This week is where football history starts to be made, partly because of how visions of glory can be instantly consigned to the past. It is tension and tantalising opportunity all at once. Through that, there’s a distinctive thought, one even more striking than the sense many players will feel this week of stepping out into great stadiums. A good chunk of this season’s stars were children when watching Barcelona’s comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, the kind of game that made them first realise the unique magic of these nights.
That was obviously the case for Camp Nou’s current talents like Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Gavi but also stars like Jude Bellingham, Jamal Musiala, Ryan Gravenberch and arguably even William Saliba and Bukayo Saka. Such grandeur and mystique is what Uefa and all of football’s major stakeholders at least think they are striving for.
The Champions League returns and its flaws leave an unintended benefit
Champions League last-16 ties
18:10 , Chris Wilson
With Villa’s match against Brugge already underway, here’s a brief reminder of the last-16 ties in the Champions League.
Tuesday, 4 March
Aston Villa vs Club Brugge
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
PSV vs Arsenal
Dortmund vs Lille
Wednesday, 5 March
Feyenoord vs Inter
Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
PSG vs Liverpool
Benfica vs Barcelona
Ivan Perisic says Arsenal have ‘lacked’ what it takes to be winners
18:00 , Chris Wilson
Former Tottenham player Ivan Perisic says Arsenal have “lacked” what it takes to be winners and believes his current side PSV Eindhoven can shock the Gunners in their Champions League last-16 tie.
Perisic, 36, has revived his career at the Dutch club and scored in PSV’s victory over Juventus in the previous round and will now face his former north London rivals on Tuesday night in Eindhoven.
Mikel Arteta’s side have crashed out of the Premier League title race since their last Champions League outing, with a defeat to West Ham and a draw to Nottingham Forest handing the advantage to runaway leaders Liverpool.
Ivan Perisic says Arsenal have ‘lacked’ what it takes to be winners
Prediction
17:45 , Chris Wilson
All that matters in this first leg is taking some kind of result back to the Emirates, and despite their offensive woes in recent weeks, Arsenal’s defence is still one of the best on the continent. They should sneak a win in Eindhoven.
PSV 0-1 Arsenal.
Jurrien Timber urges Arsenal to ‘change the narrative’ against PSV
17:25 , Chris Wilson
Jurrien Timber has challenged Arsenal to change the narrative ahead of their Champions League knockout clash against PSV Eindhoven.
The Gunners arrive in the Netherlands with their Premier League title hopes all but over after collecting just one point from their past two matches.
Mikel Arteta’s squad, without a recognised striker following season-ending injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, also failed to find the back of the net in those two fixtures.
Jurrien Timber urges Arsenal to ‘change the narrative’ against PSV
Predicted line-ups
17:07 , Chris Wilson
PSV XI: Benitez; Ledezma, Flamingo, Boscagli, Junior; Schouten, Veerman; Perisic, Saibari, Lang; de Jong.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard.
Team news
17:05 , Chris Wilson
For PSV, former Barcelona full-back Sergino Dest is expected to return this month, though this match may come too soon. Centre-back Ricardo Pepi and midfielder Malik Tillman are the long-term absentees for the Dutch side.
Team news
17:04 , Chris Wilson
Arsenal have had almost a week off since their draw with Forest, and there were no new injury concerns for Mikel Arteta after that match. Miles Lewis-Skelly is free to return to the side in European competition, so he could feature again.
With news that Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss the rest of the season, Arsenal continue to be short of options in key positions. In addition, this match will come too soon for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, with neither expected back until next month.
Is PSV vs Arsenal on TV?
17:03 , Chris Wilson
When is PSV vs Arsenal?
The match is due to kick off at 8pm GMT on Tuesday, 4 March at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
How can I watch the match?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the game live on Amazon Prime Video, with coverage starting at 7pm.
PSV vs Arsenal LIVE
17:02 , Chris Wilson
Arsenal travel to the Netherlands to face PSV in the Champions Leaguetonight, with the Gunners looking to take a potentially vital advantage into next week’s second leg in London.
While Arsenal’s title challenge may have faded in recent weeks, they remain one of the favourites in this tournament, though they’ll face stiff competition from the likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool.
And the round of 16 pits them against a PSV side who are in their own title battle, with the Eindhoven-based club currently five points behind leaders Ajax in the Eredivisie.
While the odds are heavily in Arsenal’s favour in this tie, Mikel Arteta’s side will be wary of PSV’s attacking ability, as showcased in their 4-3 aggregate win over Juventus in the play-offs.
PSV vs Arsenal LIVE
17:01 , Chris Wilson
Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of tonight’s Champions League match between PSV and Arsenal.
The Gunners travel to Eindhoven looking to take home a vital lead ahead of next week’s second leg, and they face a PSV side who dramatically beat Juventus to earn their place in the last 16.
We’ll have all chelatest updates and team news right here.
Read the full article here
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