Football writer Tom Hancock assesses Arsenal's narrow 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg at Emirates Stadium.
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Arsenal have it all to do if they’re to keep their hopes of UEFA Champions League glory alive, after a narrow defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the semi-finals at Emirates Stadium.
The damage was done inside four minutes for Mikel Arteta’s side, who failed to score at home in Europe for the first time since a 0-0 draw with Villarreal in the 2020/21 Europa League semis.
Arsenal’s fans had heeded Arteta’s calls to bring the noise, creating a veritably cacophonous atmosphere in north London.
The Emirates was stunned into silence inside four minutes, however. The Gunners, missing key midfield destroyer Thomas Partey through suspension, were pulled apart by a glorious 26-pass move that left Khvicha Kvaratskhelia unmarked on the left to tee up Dembele, who swept home from the edge of the area to end a six-match goal drought.
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PSG pushed for a second with typical intensity, Desire Doue forcing a fine save from David Raya just after the half-hour mark, but found themselves having to hold off a mini Arsenal onslaught towards the end of the first half.
Luis Enrique’s French champions did that in no small part with the help of a sublime piece of last-ditch defending by Joao Neves, who dispossessed Mikel Merino just as the Arsenal man was about to get a shot-off from close range.
And the hosts went even closer to equalising moments later, with Gabriel Martinelli at full stretch but just unable to make sufficient contact with the increasingly lively Bukayo Saka’s floated cross.
Arsenal might well have gone in level at the break, only for Martinelli to be fantastically denied by the giant Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG goal.
The feverish Emirates atmosphere was reignited almost immediately after half-time, as Merino headed home from Declan Rice’s free-kick.
However, Arsenal’s joy was short-lived: Merino was adjudged to have been offside following a VAR review.
That disallowed goal only seemed to make the Gunners more determined, and they continued to apply the pressure, Leandro Trossard the latest player to be thwarted by Donnarumma’s one-on-one brilliance.
It was to be the last clear-cut chance until Arsenal were given a pair of huge let-offs in the final minutes of the 90.
First, Bradley Barcola found himself one-on-one against David Raya after a slick exchange of passes with substitute Goncalo Ramos, but the winger could only drag his effort wide of the far post.
Then Ramos found himself with the opportunity to double PSG's advantage, but the striker rattled the crossbar after latching on to a long ball over the top.
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After those two heart-in-mouth moments, Arsenal can count themselves fortunate to trail by a single goal at the halfway point of the tie, but they know they must win in Paris next Wednesday to stand any chance of reaching a first Champions League final since 2006.
Claiming victory at the Parc des Princes will be a tough ask, but Arteta and his players can take encouragement from the recent performance of Premier League champions Liverpool, who survived a night of intense pressure to triumph 1-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie last month.
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Taking inspiration from Arsenal Women
Arsenal can also draw inspiration from the club’s women’s team, who on Sunday overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit at home to French opposition, Lyon, to reach their first Women’s Champions League final since 2007.
The pressure in the second leg will be on PSG, who, like Arsenal, are pursuing their maiden Champions League crown. And, in a way, that might just suit the Gunners, who goalkeeper Raya said will “take positives” from this game.
“They are a top team,” Raya told BBC Sport at full-time, “but credit to the players for the effort – we could've won the game.”
Indeed, statistically speaking, Arsenal did have the better of the chances on the night, attempting 10 shots worth a combined Expected Goals (xG) of 1.65 to PSG’s 11 shots, a combined xG of 1.14.
Arteta seemed similarly positive to his goalkeeper post-match. “It’s half-time [in the tie] and we have a big chance to be in the final,” the Gunners manager stressed.
He was also asked about the importance of having Partey, whose absence was brought into such sharp focus by PSG’s goal, back available for the second leg.
“I think Declan [Rice] and Mikel [Merino] were enormous,” Arteta reflected. "He [Partey] gives options and a different threat. It gives us flexibility to change the game.”
Before meeting PSG again next Wednesday, Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday 3 May when they host AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium. Kick off is 17:30 BST.
