Arsenal faces a challenging task to reach the Champions League final after Ousmane Dembele’s early goal secured a 1-0 win for PSG at the Emirates Stadium.
PSG started explosively with Dembele, while Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard were denied by remarkable saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
It was a night of frustration for the Gunners, who had a header from Mikel Merino disallowed for offside. The fans expressed their anger towards referee Slavko Vincic both at half-time and full-time, and the situation could have been worse if PSG had converted two clear opportunities late in the match.
Mikel Arteta’s side now faces a difficult road in the second leg in Paris, striving to achieve their first Champions League title in history.
Arteta: We Need Something Special in Paris
“We have to perform something exceptional in Paris,” Arteta stated. “We need to win over there, and I believe we can do it. It’s only halftime, and we have a significant opportunity to reach the final.”
Arteta expressed disappointment with the result, explaining, “We invested so much effort into the game. We struggled in the initial minutes, but other than the goal, we played well. It’s disheartening not to have scored at least a draw.”
PSG Show Class, But Arsenal’s Dream Isn’t Over
Arteta had urged Arsenal’s fans to create an intense atmosphere, which they did; however, PSG quickly disrupted it. Dembele set up the opening goal after a swift 26-pass sequence, giving PSG the advantage.
Arsenal had a shaky beginning, leading to relentless pressure from PSG. David Raya made a few critical saves to keep Arsenal in the contest. The Gunners eventually found their rhythm and created chances, but they faced frustration from the officials when Merino’s potential equalizer was deemed offside by VAR.
Arteta: Disappointment with Result
After the game, Arteta reflected on the outcome, saying, “We are disheartened. The first quarter of the match posed challenges for us, yet we had ample opportunities afterwards.” He added that it was disappointing not to secure at least a draw despite showcasing their quality.
Next Matches for Arsenal and PSG
Arsenal will travel to France for the second leg against PSG next Wednesday at the Parc des Princes. Prior to that, they will face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, while PSG will play Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on the same day.
The final of the Champions League is scheduled for Saturday, May 31, at the Allianz Arena in Munich, where the winner of this semi-final will meet either Barcelona or Inter Milan.
