Arsenal will resume their campaign on Tuesday with a Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven. The Gunners travel to the Netherlands for the first leg of their round of 16 encounter, with the return fixture set for March 12 at the Emirates Stadium.
Trailing Liverpool by 13 points in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s side sees the Champions League as a crucial opportunity for silverware this season. If they progress, they will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals, but first, they must overcome a strong PSV side currently sitting second in the Eredivisie.
Arteta previously acknowledged the challenge ahead, stating, “They are a really good team. We have experienced it before, and it will be tough, just like any Champions League fixture at this stage.”
Arsenal will be without key players due to injuries, including Takehiro Tomiyasu, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus. This leaves Arteta with limited attacking options, with Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and Ethan Nwaneri as the only senior forwards available. Mikel Merino has also been used in a striker role in recent matches.
Sterling, who is on loan from Chelsea, has struggled for form this season but brings valuable Champions League experience, having reached the final with Manchester City in 2021. With several forwards sidelined, he could play a crucial role in Tuesday’s match.
However, Sterling must tread carefully, as he is one booking away from suspension. UEFA rules state that players receive a one-match ban after accumulating three yellow cards in the competition. Since yellow cards carry over from the group stage and are only cleared after the quarter-finals, a booking in either leg against PSV would sideline him for one match.
Gabriel Martinelli is also on two yellow cards, but Arteta’s recent comments suggest the Brazilian will likely miss both matches due to injury.