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Arsenal will take on Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium, with the return fixture scheduled for the following week.
With their hopes of silverware this season now resting solely on European glory, the Gunners are determined to make history by lifting their first-ever Champions League trophy. After falling short in the Premier League title race to Liverpool, Mikel Arteta’s side are fully focused on their continental campaign.
Arsenal reached the semi-finals in impressive fashion, knocking out Real Madrid with victories both home and away.
Following their stunning elimination of the defending champions, Arsenal are now the favourites to win the Champions League for the first time, according to Opta’s Supercomputer. The model gives Arsenal a 31.3% chance of lifting the trophy — the highest among the final four teams. It’s a remarkable opportunity for the Gunners, who have played more matches in the competition (199) without winning it than any other side.
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Ironically, PSG are next on that list, having contested 163 Champions League games without yet claiming the title. According to the latest projections, the French side have a 22.0% chance of winning the competition, ranking third behind Barcelona (27.4%).
𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐖𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞? 🏆
Who are the favourites to lift the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League trophy?
Here are the current Opta supercomputer projections heading into the semi-finals this week…
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) April 28, 2025
Inter Milan, who face Barcelona in the other semi-final, are considered the underdogs. The Serie A champions have a 19.2% chance of winning the tournament and are given just a 42.5% probability of overcoming Barca over two legs.
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Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal’s triumph over Real Madrid has given his team crucial momentum as they aim for European glory.
“The feeling that we have is a reality, basically. And the inner feeling that I had before the tie,” Arteta said after their quarter-final victory. “While the players were transmitting and how prepared I could feel the team, that we are ready to compete against anybody. And now we have to continue to do that because I think we have some momentum now.
“It’s a team that you can feel today how hungry, how determined, and the ambition that it’s got. So we’re going for more, for sure.”
Arsenal will hope to capitalise on that hunger and determination when they welcome PSG to North London for the Chmapions League first-leg encounter.
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