Football
Report as Paris Saint-Germain secured a 1-0 victory against Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Emirates; Ousmane Dembele’s early goal proved to be the difference between the two sides; the second leg takes place at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday May 7
Senior Football Journalist @OliverYew
Wednesday 30 April 2025 09:19, UK
Arsenal have it all to do if they want to reach the Champions League final after Ousmane Dembele’s early goal handed PSG a 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
PSG made a blistering start through Dembele before world-class saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard kept the Gunners at bay.
It was a frustrating night for Arsenal, who saw Mikel Merino’s header ruled out for offside, with the fans venting their fury at referee Slavko Vincic at half-time and full-time, but it could have been even worse for the north London side had PSG taken one of two clear-cut chances in the closing stages.
Mikel Arteta’s side now face an uphill task in next week’s second leg in Paris as they look to keep alive their dream of a first Champions League success in the club’s history.
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“We are going to have to do something special in Paris,” Arteta said. “We have to go to Paris and win the game. We are more than capable of doing it.
“It’s half-time and we have a big chance to be in the final.”
He added: “We’re disappointed with the result. We put so much into the game.
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“The first 10 or 15 minutes, we struggled to get momentum and to get the dominance we wanted. But, other than that, there wasn’t anything apart from the goal. It’s a very individual moment that matters at this level.
“After that, the team went better and better and it’s disappointing to not get a draw at least.”
Arsenal have never overturned a home first-leg defeat in European competition, losing all five ties – most recently against Barcelona in the 2015/16 round of 16.
Arteta asked the Arsenal fans to bring the noise, and they certainly did that, but PSG silenced the Emirates early on. Dembele started the move, charging forward before picking out Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who breezed past Jurrien Timber with ease. The Georgian returned the ball to Dembele and, in acres of space, he found the net via the inside of the far post to finish a 26-pass move.
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It was a nervy start from Arsenal and PSG did not need a second invitation to continue to put the home side under pressure. The visitors took full control of the game with Arsenal struggling for any sort of rhythm.
The chances kept coming for PSG as Arsenal’s frustration grew. David Raya had to be alert to keep out Marquinhos’ header before making a super save low down to his right to deny Desire Doue. The rebound came out to Fabian Ruiz, whose shot hit both posts with the ball staying out, although the offside flag eventually went up.
Luis Enrique’s side struggled to keep their relentless pace up and it allowed Arsenal to get a foothold back into the contest. Jakub Kiwior’s header was easily saved by Donnarumma, but the Gunners started to build some momentum.
Bukayo Saka’s cross just evaded Martinelli at the far post before the Brazilian forward was brilliantly denied by Donnarumma after being played in behind the PSG defence.
The Arsenal fans made their feelings known towards the referee, and they were once again frustrated by the officials when Merino’s ‘equaliser’ straight after the break was ruled out by VAR for offside.
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However, Arsenal’s momentum continued as Declan Rice powered forward on a trademark run. He played Trossard in on goal but the Belgium international was brilliantly denied by another giant hand from Donnarumma.
Arsenal used the slogan ‘make it happen’ before the game but they could not find a way through a stubborn PSG defence.
In the end, the Gunners were lucky to keep the deficit to one as substitute Bradley Barcola pulled a shot wide when through on goal, while Goncalo Ramos’ late effort beat Raya but rattled off the crossbar in a huge let off for the Gunners.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to Amazon Prime:
“We’re disappointed with the result. We put so much into the game.
“The first 10 or 15 minutes, we struggled to get momentum and to get the dominance we wanted because we are very efficient when we regain the ball and where we won it caused us a few issues.
“But, other than that, there wasn’t anything apart from the goal. It’s a very individual moment that matters at this level.
“After that, the team went better and better and it’s disappointing to not get a draw at least.”
Sky Sports’ Clinton Morrison on Soccer Special:
“The positive Arsenal can take is that they are only 1-0 down.
“But it was one of the best away performances I’ve seen from a team in the Champions League. PSG were outstanding.”
PSG boss Luis Enrique to Amazon Prime:
“Emotions are doubled in this kind of match and it’s difficult to analyse a match like that.
“Very difficult to play. It was a great atmosphere but we showed the kind of team we are.
“We try to play in our way and scored the first goal in the first two or three minutes paying the way we try to play.
“I’m happy, we suffered sometimes, and we could have scored the second goal, but there is still a second match and it’s going to be very close.”
Analysis from Sky Sports’ Zinny Boswell at Emirates Stadium:
“You could sense the disappointment emanating around the Emirates when the final whistle sounded.
“Arsenal created enough to at least draw the game, but they go to Paris next week a goal down. They have given themselves a huge job to turn this tie around.
“The difference between the two teams, who both had to defend for their lives at times, was ultimately the quality of Dembele’s strike after four minutes. It was a 26-pass move from PSG, who have now beaten Liverpool, Aston Villa, Man City and Arsenal this season.
“Arsenal’s forwards couldn’t deliver despite their team dominating for longer spells in the second half and having more chances.
“Donnarumma, of course, produced one of the saves of the season to keep out Trossard, but they will be very disappointed by the way they played in the final third, particularly when it was clear they have the quality to hurt PSG.
“The positive is that Arsenal do live to fight another day. They have a big task ahead but not an impossible one next week in Parc des Princes.”
Arsenal travel to France for the return leg against PSG next Wednesday at the Parc des Princes.
But before that, the Gunners host Bournemouth in the Premier League’s late afternoon kick-off on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, while PSG head to Strasbourg in Ligue 1 earlier on the same day.
The Champions League final takes place on Saturday May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, with the winner of this semi-final tie taking on either Barcelona or Inter Milan.
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