Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal 1-0 last night to take a slender advantage into the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final clash on May 7.
The Parisians took an early lead via Ousmane Dembele and could have added to their advantage, but David Raya made an unbelievable stop from Desire Doue, and the follow-up struck the post.
Arsenal felt hard done by when the referee called a foul on Bukayo Saka after he dispossessed Nuno Mendes and charged down on goal.
The Gunners also had the ball in the back of the net thanks to a creative set-piece routine. However, Mikel Merino was rightly ruled offside.
PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made excellent saves to keep Arsenal out, bouncing back from his egregious attempt at keeping out the aforementioned set-piece.
Despite losing at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains upbeat about their chances.
He said (via Arsenal’s official website): “It is just half-time. I said exactly the same message after beating Real Madrid 3-0 at home. We go to Paris to win, and I fully believe we can do it.”
Arsenal will have Thomas Partey back for the second leg. He will boost their chances of securing a favourable result at the Parc des Princes.
Arsenal felt his absence as PSG dominated the engine room, with Jorginho and Martin Odegaard struggling.
Quarter-final hero Declan Rice did not have a bad game, but failed to impose himself on the match.
Partey adds steel, balance and composure. The Ghanaian international will give the Gunners confidence against PSG’s technically excellent trio of Vitinha, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz.
Arsenal must be more clinical in front of goal. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard were guilty of fluffing their lines when presented with chances.
With just a goal separating the sides, everything is still to play for.
