PSG have beaten Arsenal 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Ousmane Dembele broke the deadlock after just four minutes with a stunning strike into the bottom right corner.
Gianluigi Donnarumma made a huge save to deny Gabriel Martinelli at the end of the first-half as the Parisians went into the interval a goal to the good.
After the break, Mikel Merino thought he had levelled the tie, but VAR ruled out the Spaniard’s goal for a marginal offside.
Donnarumma was busy again just before the hour mark, getting down well to his right to prevent Leandro Trossard the equaliser.
With minutes to go at the Emirates, Goncalo Ramos raced through on goal and struck the bar as Arsenal managed to escape going two down in the tie.
The Gunners have it all to do in Paris next week as they look to progress to the Champions League final for the first time since 2006.
- Match result: Arsenal 0-1 PSG
- Arsenal starting team: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Rice, Merino, Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
- PSG starting team: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz, Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
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Arteta says Arsenal fixed early issues
Mikel Arteta has said Arsenal fixed their early issues when PSG scored, although it ultimately was not enough to salvage a draw.
He said: “I think the game had phases – the first 15 to 20 minutes especially, with them scoring so early and with great combination play, when the margins are so slim and the finishing is unbelievable.
“We had especially one issue that we corrected after 15, 20 minutes and we sustained that for the rest of the game, which I think it turned the game around.”
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Spaniard needing to show worth
While you cannot deny the improvements under Mikel Arteta, the silverware has not been part of that journey.
His abilities will be tested as a manager as he locks horns with Luis Enrique again in the second-leg.
He needs to find a way to set his side up tactically to contain PSG’s attacking threat, while finding a way to hurt them.
This could be a real hero or zero moment for Mikel Arteta.
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Mammoth tie awaits in Paris
Arseal’s season will all come down to a clash at the Parc des Princes against PSG next week.
Their whole season rests upon it as their only chance of silverware.
A goal down from the first-leg, they need to do the unthinkable and go and win in France.
These are the moments that separate the best from the rest.
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Mikel always drawing positives
When doing his media duties after games, Arteta will always talk about what his side did well and rue how things did not go their way.
He did that this evening when talking about how Merino was millimetres offside for their disallowed goal.
As we saw on the graphic, he was off by half a yard.
It is all well and good protecting your players from criticism as all good managers should, but behind the scenes he needs to identify their failings.
Arsenal dominate possession in games but show no penetration in the final third for large portions of games.
They cannot afford to do that at the Parc des Princes if they want to make this season’s final.
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Youngster struggles to deal with defender
Bukayo Saka did not have the sort of impact he was hoping for this evening against PSG.
Nuno Mendes did a similar job on Mohamed Salah when they played Liverpool in the competition over two-legs.
The Arsenal winger will need to work with his coaches to see how he can one over the PSG defender when they travel to Paris.
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Spaniard has bragging rights in capital
PSG boss Luis Enrique spoke about his side’s win at The Emirates:
Well, I think emotions are that high it is difficult to analyse. I think we show what kind of team we are and we score the first goal in the first two or three minutes. It is still going to be a very tough match in Paris. That is the work of goalkeepers is it not, that is what they are to do. We need to prepare for the second match, it is going to be difficult. We have a small advantage but we have to play like we did today.
Luis Enrique
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Visitors win all key battles
PSG came to the capital knowing that they needed to shutdown the supply of Arsenal’s key players.
They did just that with Martin Odegaard.
The Norwegian struggled to get the ball in key areas where he could hurt Luis Enrique’s side.
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Boss gives view on performance
Speaking with Amazon Prime after the game, Arteta gave his thought’s on the defeat in North London:
We are disappointed with the result. We put so much into the game. I think after the goal we got better and better and better. Credit to them, they got the goal and were clinical. Sometimes you have to recognise the talent of the opposition. Trossard was millimetres offside and these are the fine margins. It is half-time and we have a big chance to make the final.
Mikel Arteta
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Gunners breaking unwanted records
Tonight’s defeat is Arsenal’s first at home in this season’s Champions League competition.
However, the club have now gone six games without scoring a goal in a semi-final in this trophy.
They will need to have a more attacking mindset when they travel to Paris and look to turn this tie around.
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French champions get job done
Speaking with Amazon Prime after the game, PSG’s midfield dynamo gave his thoughts:
It was a great night. Most for the group, it was a very good performance for the team. We controlled the games with the ball, today we defended well, we attacked well. It was a very strong performance from us. We have to continue like this, it is not over. We have to play a good game in Paris now. We could have scored more as well but we are happy with the one-nil.
Vitinha
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Gunners disappointed in capital
You could see from the reactions of the players that this was a bitter blow for Mikel Arteta’s side.
After all the jubilation of their home win against Real Madrid, this was the complete other end of the spectrum.
Defeats tell you more about your squad than wins and it will be interesting to see how The Gunners bounce back.
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Rice off the boil in deep role
Arsenal certainly missed the driving runs of Declan Rice from box to box this evening against PSG.
Without Thomas Partey, he had to play in a much deep role, sitting in front of the back four.
It impacted on their whole game with Odegaard not having that person to link up with in the final third.
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Fans fail to be the extra man
Against Real Madrid, The Emirates was a cauldron of noise from start to finish, making for an intimidating atmosphere.
That lasted all of four minutes today and resembled a North London library for far too much of the game.
They will experience how the home fans can make a difference next week in Paris at the Parc des Princes.
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Tactics gives Gunners problems
Give credit where it is due to Luis Enrique, he out-thought his opposite number this evening.
Despite the pack-house at The Emirates, they immediately took them out of the equation, grabbing an early goal to silence North London.
Aside from a few half-chances, PSG looked comfortable for the majority of this match.
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FT: Arsenal 0-1 PSG
It was not the night the Arsenal fans were hoping for tonight.
They have it all to do when they visit Paris next week.
Arteta’s side will certainly need to create more scoring opportunities.
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View from SunSport’s Charlie Wyett at The Emirates
It is undoubtedly a disappointing night for Arsenal and PSG will be happy to take that one-goal lead back to the Parc des Princes next week.
It will be interesting to hear what Mikel Arteta has to say about his team’s defending for Ousmane Dembele’s early goal.
Although Mikel Merino had an effort disallowed for Arsenal it could have been worse as PSG subs Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos should both have scored near the end.
It is not mission impossible for Arsenal in the second leg but nevertheless, they need to deliver something heroic.
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FT: Arsenal 0-1 PSG
The referee brings the game to an end.
It is a slender win for PSG in North London.
Disappointment for The Gunners.
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Arsenal 0-1 PSG
90+4. Rice steals the ball off the toe of Vitinha.
He fouls the midfielder but the referee plays advantage.
Nwaneri plays it into the path of Martinelli, who sends his shot into orbit.
They have have to contact Elon Mush to get that one back.
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Arsenal 0-1 PSG
90+2. Luis Enrique’s side are closing down the options.
Arsenal end up passing it sideways or backwards.
Raya ends up sending it downfield, more hit and hope stuff.
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Arsenal 0-1 PSG
90. Arsenal are just lacking that killer-pass in the final third.
PSG will just look to defend what they have now.
We are going to have five added minutes.
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Arsenal 0-1 PSG
88. It is all getting a little desperate for the hosts.
Zaire-Emery replaces Joao Neves for PSG.
Nwaneri looks like he is about to come on for Arsenal, replacing Odegaard.
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Arsenal 0-1 PSG
86. Ramos gets in behind the Gunners’ defence.
The hosts are waiting for a flag that is never going to come.
Fortunately the Portuguese striker’s toe-poked effort comes rattling off the crossbar with Raya beaten.
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Arsenal 0-1 PSG
84. What a chance for PSG to double their lead.
Barcola is slotted through and only has the keeper to beat.
His shot is poor as he drags it wide of the far post.
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View from SunSport’s Charlie Wyett at The Emirates
PSG’s fans continue to make a real noise in the corner and they have not stopped singing all night. There will be a few croaky voices back to Paris on the Eurostar tomorrow.
Their team now seems to have setted for a one-goal win and are happy to sit back and soak up the Arsenal pressure although they still look dangerous on the counter-attack.
