Arsenal will travel to the Netherlands to face PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie on Tuesday, 4 March 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 8:00 PM GMT. This fixture comes after Arsenal's frustrating Premier League draw against Nottingham Forest, as Mikel Arteta’s side shifts its focus to European competition in pursuit of silverware.

Arsenal Injury News

The Gunners will be without several key players for this crucial encounter:

• Gabriel Jesus – The Brazilian striker has been ruled out for the rest of the season following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery.

• Kai Havertz – The German international will also miss the remainder of the campaign due to a hamstring injury.

• Bukayo Saka – The winger is recovering from a hamstring problem and is expected to return after the next international break in March.

• Gabriel Martinelli – Similarly, the Brazilian forward is sidelined with a hamstring injury and is anticipated to make his return next month.

• Takehiro Tomiyasu – The Japanese defender is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery.

With these injuries limiting Arsenal’s attacking options, Arteta may need to adjust his approach, potentially deploying Leandro Trossard or experimenting with alternative attacking setups.

PSV Injury News

PSV Eindhoven also have a few injury concerns ahead of Tuesday’s match:

• Esmir Bajraktarević – The midfielder remains out with a long-term injury and is expected to return later in March.

• Ricardo Pepi – The American striker is doubtful due to a minor knee issue. He has been influential in the Champions League this season, scoring twice and providing one assist in seven appearances.

• Malik Tillman – The 22-year-old midfielder is struggling with an ankle injury, making his availability uncertain. His absence would be a significant blow, given his seven goals in 18 Eredivisie matches this season.

• Sergiño Dest – The full-back is also a doubt as he continues to recover from a knee injury, with no confirmation yet on whether he will be fit to feature.

Match Context

Arsenal finished in the top eight of the league phase, automatically securing their place in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, PSV had to navigate a play-off, impressively eliminating Juventus over two legs to book their spot in this stage of the competition.

Arsenal will be keen to take advantage of this opportunity, as the Champions League now represents their best chance of securing silverware this season. However, with several first-team players unavailable, they will need to deliver a disciplined performance against a PSV side that has shown resilience in European competition.

For both clubs, this match presents a crucial opportunity to gain momentum before the second leg at the Emirates Stadium. A strong result in Eindhoven could prove decisive in shaping the outcome of the tie.