Paris Saint-Germain claimed a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the opening leg of their Champions League semi-final clash.
The decisive moment came just four minutes into the match when Ousmane Dembele found the net with a spectacular shot into the bottom right corner, putting the Parisian side ahead.
PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a vital save towards the end of the first half, denying Gabriel Martinelli and preserving his side`s one-goal lead heading into the break.
After halftime, Mikel Merino of Arsenal believed he had equalised, but the goal was disallowed following a VAR review for a marginal offside call.
Donnarumma was called into action again shortly before the hour mark, making another good save low to his right to prevent Leandro Trossard from scoring the equaliser.
In the dying minutes at the Emirates Stadium, Goncalo Ramos had a golden opportunity to double PSG`s lead but struck the crossbar, allowing Arsenal to avoid falling two goals behind in the tie.
The Gunners now face a challenging task in Paris next week as they aim to overcome the deficit and reach the Champions League final for the first time since 2006.
Post-Match Analysis and Reaction
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal`s manager, typically focuses on the positives and laments missed opportunities during his post-match interviews. He mentioned Merino`s disallowed goal, despite the VAR graphic showing it was clearly offside by a significant margin. While protecting his players publicly, Arteta needs to address the team`s weaknesses privately. Despite often dominating possession, Arsenal struggled to create meaningful chances in the final third against PSG. This lack of attacking penetration must be resolved for the return leg at the Parc des Princes.
Bukayo Saka had a quiet game against PSG. Nuno Mendes effectively neutralised the young winger, just as he did against Mohamed Salah in previous rounds. Saka and the Arsenal coaching staff will need to find a way to overcome Mendes` defence in the second leg in Paris.
PSG manager Luis Enrique secured bragging rights in the capital with this victory. He successfully implemented a strategy to shut down Arsenal`s key playmakers, particularly Martin Odegaard. The Norwegian struggled to find space and influence the game in dangerous areas, limiting Arsenal`s creative output. Aside from a few half-chances, PSG appeared largely in control of the match.
This defeat marked Arsenal`s first home loss in the Champions League this season. Worryingly, the club has now gone six semi-final matches in this competition without scoring. To turn the tie around in Paris, Arsenal will need a significantly more attacking approach.
The disappointment was visible on the faces of the Arsenal players after the final whistle. Following the jubilation of their previous home win against Real Madrid, this defeat represented the opposite end of the emotional spectrum. Losses often reveal more about a squad than wins, and it will be telling to see how the Gunners respond.
Declan Rice`s performance was impacted by playing a deeper midfield role due to Thomas Partey`s absence. He was less able to make his usual driving runs from box to box, which affected the team`s overall play. This also reduced the link-up opportunities between Rice and Odegaard in the final third.
The atmosphere at the Emirates, a key factor in their win against Real Madrid, was subdued after Dembele`s early goal. It quickly became quiet for large periods of the match, unlike the intimidating environment seen previously. The team will experience the impact of a strong home crowd when they visit the Parc des Princes next week.
SunSport`s Charlie Wyett at The Emirates noted the disappointment for Arsenal and PSG`s satisfaction with the one-goal lead. He highlighted questions regarding Arsenal`s defending for Dembele`s goal and mentioned that PSG substitutes Barcola and Ramos could have extended the lead late on. While not impossible, Arsenal faces a heroic task in the second leg.
Full Time: Arsenal 0-1 PSG
The final whistle blew, confirming a narrow win for PSG in North London. Arsenal will need to create many more scoring opportunities in the return leg if they hope to advance.
