Ivan Perisic believes PSV Eindhoven can beat Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League clash because Mikel Arteta’s squad have previously lacked what it takes to be winners.
The Dutch side saw off Arne Slot’s Feyenoord to take the Eredivisie title last season but they slipped to a fourth defeat of their league campaign on Saturday with an away loss at Go Ahead Eagles.
In the Champions League, however, PSV saw off Liverpool in the group stage before overcoming Juventus in a two-legged fixture to reach the last 16.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s visit to the Philips Stadion on Tuesday night, Perisic, who spent a short period at Tottenham, said: ‘Arsenal often lacked that one bit to win something last year.
‘We have to be fully prepared, then we have a good chance to beat them.
Get personalised updates on your team every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
‘It will be a tough game against a young team with a strong coach. But I believe in our team and we have to play at our best. When you hear the Champions League anthem, it gives something special.”
PSV have not kept a clean sheet in their last seven Eredivisie matches, conceding three against Go Ahead Eagles over the weekend.
However, manager Peter Bosz said he has no plans to adapt his side’s aggressive style which has seen them score in every home game this season.
‘I already indicated last year that defending starts with attacking,” he said when quizzed as to whether he will be more conservative against the Gunners.
‘We immediately put pressure on the ball, which allowed us to win it back quickly and often did not have to defend at all. Football is a complex sport. You cannot point to one single aspect.
‘It is a combination of many factors that have to come together well. It is often small details that prevent us from winning matches. We are working intensively to improve those details and I am responsible for that.’
Arsenal’s lack of firepower, meanwhile, may offer PSV hope of a rare clean sheet with the Gunners lacking a host of key players including the likes of Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz.
Arteta’s men failed to score in each of their last two games and have fallen 13 points off the pace in the race for the Premier League title.
Asked how he will instil belief in his players following a difficult fortnight, Artea said:’ Well, try to explain how we’re going to do it and why we do things, and they try to deliver that in the best possible way.
‘In the last two results it’s been very different, in terms of performance as well, not getting the right result that we want, but we’ve certainly been better, especially in the last game with the opposition.
‘And the fact we still have gears, even with the players that we have, some of them have gears to take us to a different level.
‘When it comes to that stage, it’s about lifting the level and the standards, every individual has to be at their best.
‘When we do that, with the team that we have and the connection we have between us, we are a really strong team.’
