Football
Arsene Wenger identifies ‘advantage’ Arsenal have over PSG ahead of second leg
Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal hold a crucial psychological edge over Paris Saint-Germain heading into the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
Speaking ahead of the pivotal clash, the former Arsenal manager highlighted the Gunners’ clarity of purpose compared to the internal conflict PSG may face regarding their tactical approach.
In the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Ousmane Dembélé stunned the home crowd with an early fourth-minute goal, which ultimately proved decisive in PSG’s narrow 1-0 win.
Although the French side was dominant for large spells, Arsenal had opportunities to equalize but were denied twice by Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made key saves against Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Despite trailing in the tie, Wenger suggested that Arsenal’s situation is simpler: they know they must attack and win. For PSG, the dilemma is more complex. With a one-goal lead, the question becomes whether to protect the advantage or continue playing offensively—an approach more aligned with their footballing DNA.
Wenger emphasized that playing defensively could cause dissonance within the squad, as not every player might buy into a passive strategy.
Luis Enrique, therefore, must be precise and convincing in his message to ensure full alignment ahead of the second leg.
Wenger also touched on Dembélé’s absence in the earlier group stage meeting, when PSG lost 2-0 to Arsenal. That absence, a result of disciplinary measures from Enrique after the forward missed a team meeting and arrived late, ultimately had long-term benefits.
According to Wenger, Enrique’s bold decision to bench Dembélé that day transformed the player, turning him into a more focused and productive asset. Since then, Dembélé has been in fine form, underlined by his decisive contribution in the semi-final opener.
Midfield control has also shifted in PSG’s favor thanks to the emergence of Vitinha, who Wenger says has brought much-needed balance and possession stability.
Alongside Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz, the midfield now operates with a distinctly Spanish style of play that suits Enrique’s preference for ball retention.
In wide areas, full-backs Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi have been standouts throughout the competition, offering width and support at both ends of the pitch.
However, PSG’s preparation for the second leg is clouded by fitness concerns surrounding Dembélé. After scoring the winning goal in London, the French international reported tightness in his right hamstring and did not feature in PSG’s recent Ligue 1 loss to Strasbourg.
According to Stephen Smith, CEO of Kitman Labs, even a grade 1 hamstring injury would typically sideline a player for at least two weeks. He warned that starting Dembélé would be a high-risk move, especially considering his recent form and the likelihood of exacerbating the injury.
As Arsenal aim to snap their three-match winless streak, their task in Paris is clear. For PSG, with a lead to defend and a spot in the final at stake, their biggest challenge may be internal—finding the right mindset and tactical balance without compromising their identity.
With the stage set for a dramatic conclusion, all eyes turn to Paris for what promises to be an intense and high-stakes encounter.
Tottenham Hotspur appear to have taken the lead in the race to sign Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, following his match-winning performance in the FA Cup final.
The 26-year-old midfielder sealed a historic 1-0 victory over Manchester City at Wembley, earning Palace their first major trophy and placing himself firmly in the spotlight ahead of the summer transfer window.
Eze has enjoyed a standout season for the South London side, contributing 24 goals and assists in 41 appearances across all competitions. His form has not gone unnoticed, with Spurs, Arsenal, and Manchester City all expressing interest in securing his services.
According to reports from The Sun, Tottenham currently hold a clear advantage over their Premier League rivals. The North London club, managed by Ange Postecoglou, are believed to be pushing strongly for the England international’s signature.
The midfielder is reportedly eager to play Champions League football next season. Spurs could meet that ambition if they clinch victory in their upcoming Europa League final.
Arsenal, though monitoring Eze’s situation, are said to be less aggressive in their pursuit, while Manchester City may also enter the fray as Pep Guardiola searches for a potential successor to Kevin De Bruyne.
Despite interest from top clubs, Crystal Palace remain intent on keeping Eze, who is under contract until 2027. Any deal would likely demand a significant transfer fee.
However, if Eze decides against renewing his contract, Palace could find themselves in a more vulnerable position by the summer of 2026, when he enters the final year of his current deal.
Eze’s football journey began in Arsenal’s youth academy, but he was released at the age of 13—a moment that left a lasting emotional impact.
In a 2020 interview, he recalled the pain of being let go, describing it as a moment that made him cry for a week. He later found new confidence at Fulham before making his professional breakthrough with Queens Park Rangers and eventually joining Palace in 2020.
Since then, Eze has made 165 appearances for the Eagles, scoring 39 goals and providing 28 assists. He also scored his first goal for England earlier this year in a World Cup qualifying win over Latvia. With speculation about his future mounting, the midfielder is expected to take his time before deciding his next move.
Bernardo Silva didn’t hold back after Manchester City’s shock FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace, calling out his teammates and saying, “You learn who you can go to war with.”
The loss means City will finish the season without a trophy for only the second time during Pep Guardiola’s illustrious nine-year tenure at the club.
The Portuguese midfielder was brutally honest in his post-match reaction, accusing some players of lacking commitment and failing to rise to the occasion when it mattered most.
“In the bad moments you learn new things,” said Silva. “Who you can go to war with, first of all, because it’s in the bad moments that you see who the real ones are.
“It’s been a really, really bad season for us. Something has to change next year. I have my opinion, but I’m not going to give it to you. It’s for the big bosses to decide. But definitely, something needs to change when you don’t perform at this level.
“Our standard needs to be very, very high to be champions again – and that’s the level we want to reach again. I’d say it’s a bit of everything, but the season was not good for many reasons.
“But there are a lot of things that were good for us, like not taking things for granted and not lowering our standards. We’ve got people used to winning every year and people demand this team wins every year. But football is a tough sport and it’s not easy to beat these teams, especially in the Premier League.”
Silva also gave credit to Crystal Palace for their disciplined performance and acknowledged they were the better side on the day, with Eberechi Eze’s first-half goal proving decisive.
“They defended really well, they were really patient, they were very organised,” said Silva. “We knew that before the game in terms of being patient and we knew how dangerous they were on the counter, how quick and what very good individuals they were.
“But then also we lacked a bit of quality in the final third to score our chances. But congratulations to them, they’re a very good team.”
Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, remained composed in defeat, pointing to fine margins as the deciding factor in the match.
“We played really good. We did everything and created chances, but unfortunately, we couldn’t score. They scored with their first transition. It’s about goals – they scored one, so congratulations to Crystal Palace.
“It wasn’t just possession. We created chances and chances. They didn’t create much, but they defended really well, really deep, like under Roy Hodgson.”
Guardiola was also involved in a tense moment with goalkeeper Dean Henderson at full time after an apparent handball outside the box. However, the City boss declined to weigh in, saying simply: “I’m not the referee!”
Alexander Isak will not be part of Newcastle United’s squad as they face Arsenal this Sunday, with the Swedish striker sidelined by a minor groin injury.
The absence of the club’s top scorer is a setback in their push for Champions League qualification, especially considering Isak’s standout season. He has netted 23 goals in 33 Premier League appearances, trailing only Mohamed Salah in the scoring charts.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has made just one change to the team that triumphed over Chelsea in their last outing, bringing in Callum Wilson to lead the line at the Emirates Stadium. This marks Wilson’s second league start of the campaign, stepping in for Isak at a crucial point in the season.
In an official club statement released ahead of the match, Newcastle confirmed: “Wilson will make just his second league start of the campaign in place of leading goalscorer Alexander Isak, who misses out with a minor groin injury, as the Magpies bid to make sure of Champions League qualification.”
Wilson, who has featured in 16 Premier League games this term, is still searching for his first goal of the season and will be aiming to end that drought against a formidable Arsenal side.
Newcastle also continue to cope without midfielder Joelinton, who is recovering from a knee injury. Howe recently acknowledged that it’s unlikely the Brazilian will return before the season ends.
“He’s working away behind the scenes,” Howe said. “Typical Joe – he’s absolutely foot to the floor trying to get fit because he wants to be involved. The biggest possibility is that we don’t see him again this season and we’ll get him ready for next year.”
Arsenal, currently second in the Premier League table and just two points ahead of Newcastle, welcome back Declan Rice from a hip issue.
The midfielder replaces the suspended Mikel Merino in the starting eleven. Kai Havertz also returns to the matchday squad for the first time since February following a hamstring injury, taking a place on the bench.
Both sides are locked in a tight race near the top of the table, with every point crucial as the season draws to a close.
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