Paris Saint-Germain have secured a vital 1-0 victory against Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie held at the Emirates Stadium. Ousmane Dembélé provided the decisive moment just four minutes into the match with a superb strike into the bottom right corner, giving the French side an early lead.
Arsenal pushed for an equalizer, but PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was in fine form. He made a crucial save to deny Gabriel Martinelli just before half-time, ensuring PSG went into the break with their one-goal advantage intact. In the second half, Mikel Merino thought he had pulled Arsenal level, only for the goal to be disallowed for a marginal offside following a VAR review. Donnarumma was called into action again around the hour mark, making a good save to prevent Leandro Trossard from finding the net.
Late in the game, Arsenal faced a scare when substitute Gonçalo Ramos broke through on goal, but his shot hit the crossbar, preventing PSG from extending their lead and keeping the tie within reach for the Gunners. The result leaves Arsenal with a significant challenge ahead of the second leg at the Parc des Princes next week, as they aim to overturn the deficit and reach their first Champions League final since 2006.
The defeat highlights areas for improvement for Mikel Arteta`s side. Despite dominating possession at times, they lacked sufficient penetration in the final third. Key players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard were effectively contained by the Parisian defence and midfield. The deep positioning of Declan Rice, potentially influenced by the absence of Thomas Partey, seemed to impact Arsenal`s ability to link play centrally. Furthermore, the home atmosphere, often a strength for Arsenal, reportedly struggled to maintain intensity after the early PSG goal.
This loss is Arsenal`s first at home in the Champions League this season but extends an unwanted record, marking their sixth consecutive semi-final match in the competition without scoring a goal. PSG`s tactical discipline under Luis Enrique proved effective in shutting down Arsenal`s key threats and securing a valuable away win.
Match Details:
- Match result: Arsenal 0-1 PSG
Starting Lineups:
- Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Rice, Merino, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
- PSG: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz, Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
