Paris Saint-Germain took a crucial step toward the UEFA Champions League final with a narrow 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of their semifinal clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Ousmane Dembélé scored the only goal of the match in the fourth minute, finishing off a fast PSG attack assisted by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The visitors controlled the early stages and capitalized on a shaky start from the Gunners to earn a valuable away win.
Despite the early setback, Arsenal gradually grew into the game and controlled possession for large spells, especially after the 20-minute mark. However, they failed to convert their dominance into goals, with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making several key saves.
Arsenal thought they had equalized late in the first half, but the goal was disallowed. Manager Mikel Arteta waited until the 83rd minute to make his first substitution, which many fans and pundits found telling of the squad’s depth concerns.
David Raya, speaking post-match, remained optimistic about Arsenal’s chances, pointing to the team’s response after conceding early and their ability to create chances. He praised his teammates’ effort and underlined the importance of midfielder Thomas Partey, who missed the match. Raya also emphasized that Arsenal have shown throughout the season they can win on the road, suggesting they can still turn the tie around in Paris next week.
Pundits offered mixed views on Arsenal’s performance. Alan Shearer noted PSG were clearly the better team on the night, while Clarence Seedorf remarked that the French side showed the mentality and pressing Arsenal lacked.
Wayne Rooney criticized the subdued atmosphere and suggested Arsenal may have underestimated their opponents after beating Real Madrid in the previous round. Former Arsenal players Theo Walcott and Matthew Upson agreed the Gunners are still in the tie but stressed the need for a sharper performance in Paris.
The result leaves Arsenal with a tough task ahead, needing to win in the second leg at Parc des Princes to keep their Champions League dreams alive. PSG, meanwhile, will be confident after securing a clean sheet and creating multiple chances to extend their lead, with Barcola and Ramos going close. Manager Luis Enrique celebrated the result but was visibly frustrated that his team did not score more.
The other semifinal sees Barcelona face Inter Milan, setting the stage for a potential all-Spanish or French-Italian final. Arsenal now turn their focus to preparing for a must-win return leg, knowing they’ll need both tactical discipline and attacking precision to overcome a PSG side that appears to be peaking at the right time.
