Arsenal hosted Paris Saint-Germain in the first game of the UEFA Champions Legaue semifinals on Wednesday. Coming on the back of a 5-1 thumping of Real Madrid across both legs in the quarter-final, momentum was on Arsenal’s side. PSG, on the other hand, had narrowly scraped past a resolute Aston Villa to make it to the next round. Despite the head-to-head record favoring Arteta’s side and a 2-0 win over their opponents in the earlier part of the UCL season in the league stage, the Gunners were second best in front of their own fans. Former Barcelona man and PSG winger Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring for the visitors in the 4th minute, giving PSG the upper hand.
If Arsenal were the defensive maestros against Madrid, it was now PSG’s turn to frustrate their hosts. Arsenal’s attack, comprising Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, all failed to find the net despite a combined 4 attempts on target. PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was lauded for his sublime display in between the sticks on a night where PSG were hanging on to a singular goal scored in the opening minutes.
What did Arteta have to say?
Reacting to the frustrating loss at home, Mikel Arteta said that PSG started the game better and that Arsenal’s press was not good enough to contain the PSG attack. “We have to go to Paris and win the game,” said the Spaniard as he called for his side to be ‘ruthless’ with the chances they get. After a 2-0 loss to Arsenal back in October, Luis Enrique’s PSG side have knocked out Aston Villa, beat Manchester City and eliminated Liverpool in the run up to the semis.
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s night to remember
In a game of narrow margins, it was the PSG keeper that stood tall to keep his side in the game and ultimately hand them victory. The Italian International has often been criticised for his errors in big Champions League ties, but that was not to be on Wednesday.
His 5 incredible saves, notably the ones against Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Saka, set up PSG with a one-goal advantage when they host Arsenal for the return leg at the Parc des Princes. Arsenal’s only moment of celebration came in the early minutes of the second half, when Mikel Merino headed home from a Declan Rice corner, only to be disallowed by VAR for offside.
The second leg in Paris is scheduled for the 8th of May at 12:30 AM IST.
