“A lot of things have changed”… Why the equation is no longer the same since the Gunners’ victory over the Parisians in October

Seven months after the first clash between the two teams (2-0 for Arsenal) in the Champions League, already at the Emirates Stadium in London, the situation has changed and the suspense is total in the semi-finals of the competition.

PSG is on the verge of the second Champions League final in its history. In front stand the cannons of Arsenal, an opponent he has already encountered this season, seven months ago, during the C1 league phase. Luis Enrique’s protégés then failed to compare, losing 2-0 without ever giving the impression of being able to win the showdown.

“It was a long time ago. A lot of things have happened since then. Some difficulties have been overcome. It’s a different match, although we will stay true to the way we play”warned Parisian midfielder Vitinha at a press conference on Monday April 28.

In October, Paris only played the eighth match of a season that seemed like a turning point because it was marked by the departure of Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid. Despite 64% possession, the Parisian team only had one major opportunity, on a corner cut by Joao Neves bouncing off the crossbar (66th). If Luis Enrique had assumed his responsibility in the defeat, his refusal to answer a question on the microphone of a Canal+ journalist had created the start of a controversy. “To know the real level of our team, we will have to wait until the end of the season.”he said after an evening to which he had not invited Ousmane Dembélé, sanctioned for “failure to fulfill team obligations”.

This first failed test had cast doubt on PSG’s ability to compete with the best teams in Europe. He then went three consecutive matches without a victory in C1 (1-1 against PSV, 1-2 against Atlético de Madrid and 0-1 at Bayern Munich)before a rebirth in December which transfigured this team, going from virtual elimination in the league phase to serious contender for the coronation, by the own admission of the beaten coaches, from Eric Roy to Unai Emery via Arne Slot.

The Liverpool coach, whom he led to the Premier League title on Sunday, confided after the round of 16 that PSG was “the best team in Europe at the moment”. Since this stunning qualification at Anfield on penalties a month and a half ago, the Parisian team has inspired fear on the European scene. Its image of a training in the making, carried by young leaders, disappeared at the end of the fall. “I watched the match again (against Arsenal) and I saw the evolution of the team. I think we are better and more complete today.”supported Luis Enrique on Monday.

When Arsenal lost their two leading attackers (Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus) to injury until the end of the season while letting the English championship title slip away, PSG found the winning formula in attack. Luis Enrique preferred to change people rather than the system. After having caused a lot of ink to be spilled during periods of chronic ineffectiveness, the choice to play with a false No. 9 rather than a professional striker ended up bearing fruit.

Ousmane Dembélé took over the role once entrusted to Marco Asensio (who has since left on loan) and Kang-In Lee (whose playing time has been considerably reduced). He hasn’t been the same man since. Mocked for his failures and his low statistical contribution, the French international is now the top scorer playing with a club in the five major European championships in 2025 with 24 goals in 24 matches. Asked for the umpteenth time about the reasons for what seems like a trigger, the person concerned explained, before the quarter-final return against Aston Villa, that it was mainly due to “the position where (il) plays”.

Leader of the attack, Dembélé also saw his teammates raise their level of play. Six months after his first start in the Champions League, on the Arsenal pitch, Désiré Doué exploded to the highest level (11 goals and 8 assists with PSG in 2025), to the point of making his first selection for the French team. The winter recruit Since January, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has offered one more weapon with her riot of energy and her devastating dribbles. Competitive, Bradley Barcola had to restart his season after a big slump from the end of November to mid-January (0 goals or assists in 10 games).

The resurgence of Parisian inefficiency against Nice (1-3) on Friday does not worry Luis Enrique any more. “What I saw, I’m signing to see again on Tuesday in London and for the return match. What I saw on the pitch – a team creating 30 scoring chances – I’m signing straight away, even if I’m not signing for the result, obviously”supported the Spanish coach, who did not appreciate the questions relating to the disappointing results of his team (one victory in the last four matches). Opposite, Arsenal also remains on a last outing without a victory (2-2 against Crystal Palace) which says nothing either about its dynamics or its real level.

“I don’t know if they’re the best team we’ve faced. It’s hard to say. They’re one of the best teams in Europe. Their coach has been doing a very good job for six years.”summarized Luis Enrique, summarizing at a press conference. The English club remains on 12 games without defeat and is the only one to have won the first leg and the second leg in the quarter-finals (3-0, 2-1), all by eliminating Real Madrid, defending champion. The Gunners remain as dangerous from set pieces as in October, where the Parisians are still as brittle in this phase of play.

They paid the price on the pitch at Aston Villa and against Nice in barely ten days. “I consider that we have a very good level in this area (…) We will not prepare our team solely based on this aspect of the game,” Luis Enrique recently assured. Asked again about working on this, the Asturian showed sarcasm at a press conference, reprimanding a journalist: “We work on all aspects of the game, including set pieces, otherwise how do you think I would have been given my licence coach?”