UCL: First-half dominance secure maximum points for Arsenal

Arsenal recorded their first win in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League courtesy of a 2-0 victory against French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

The Gunners escaped defeat on Matchday one due to the brilliance of David Raya against Europa League winners Atalanta.

They made their dominance count at the Emirates stadium with a solid performance in the first half that eventually sealed their maximum points.

The win in the new Champions League format put Arsenal the Gunners in the 8th position on the log, with two points separating them from the top three.

Mikel Arteta’s side followed an opening draw with total control against the Paris team with two first-half goals from Kai Havertz’s header and a free-kick from Bukayo Saka that drifted in past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

PSG had a chance to reduce the deficit, at least when Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves hit the woodwork on either side of the break, but a dominant first-half display from Arsenal established the platform for victory.

Havertz opened the goal chart after 20 minutes when he beat Donnarumma to Leandro Trossard’s inviting cross to head home.

The Italian goalie got deceived by Saka’s set-piece from near the touchline as he was unsighted in a packed penalty area to concede the second goal.

Without Ousmane Dembele for the clash, PSG still mounted periods of pressure after the break as Arsenal struggled to retain possession.

Arteta felt confident enough to give a debut to Mikel Merino, a £31m signing from Real Sociedad, on another satisfactory night for Arsenal, and the Spaniard delivered.

Arsenal showed growing maturity with the first-half performance, which gave them a deserved two-goal advantage and the cushion to come through moments of pressure in the second half for a deserved win.

PSG, on their part, is in a transition period after the decision to move on from the era of the acquisition of superstars.

Meanwhile, how Arsenal controlled the first 45 minutes was another sign of the growth of the Gunners under Arteta.

Arsenal showed that they meant business as they took a stranglehold on affairs through Havertz, who showed bravery and commitment to reach Trossard’s delivery ahead of the onrushing Donnarumma. Saka’s somewhat freakish strike from a free-kick played in a fashion that would have also delighted their manager.

Arsenal withstood a more difficult moment in the second half as PSG responded.

Gabriel Martinelli had an opportunity to make it three when but shot straight at Donnarumma.

Arsenal succeeded in keeping Luis Enrique’s side at arm’s length and concluded the win comfortably as Raya recorded another clean sheet in his second appearance at the tournament.

Apart from the positive of seeing Merino make his debut, Arsenal will hope the injury that forced defender Jurrien Timber off at half-time is not a serious one, given his form this season after a knee injury sustained on the opening day of last term kept him out for the whole campaign.