The optimistic reading for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal is that it is not over. And yet if they are to keep alive their shot at history, the pursuit of a firstChampions Leaguetriumph, they are going to need something extraordinary in the second leg of this semi-final next Wednesday.
The atmosphere at the Parc des Princes will be red-hot andParis Saint-Germainwill not easily be shifted from the advantage that Ousmane Dembélé’s fourth-minute goal has given them. The French champions showed why they have won so many admirers across the continent this season, calling the tune for the opening 35 minutes or so. And again towards the end when they expertly retightened their grip.
Arsenal resisted, showed their mettle and they had their moments. Gianluigi Donnarumma was forced to make crucial saves from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. Mikel Merino had a goal disallowed. But this was not the barnstorming night that Arteta had wanted, one to rival thefirst leg of the quarter-final against Real Madridhere, when Arsenal won 3-0.
PSG were in total command during the closing stages and the truth was they could have scored again. After João Neves had lifted a shot high, one PSG substitute, Bradley Barcola, dragged wastefully wide of the far post when clean through before another, Gonçalo Ramos, hit the crossbar when one-on-one with David Raya. Ramos had run through all alone. He almost had too much time.
Dembélé was dropped for PSG’s tie in the league phase of the competition here in October, whichArsenalwon 2-0, after a disagreement with Luis Enrique. Yet the striker made the difference, breaking a six-game scoring drought with what was his 25th goal in his last 25 club games. He was not the only PSG player to shine.
“Bring your boots,” Arteta had told the Arsenal fans. In other words, be prepared to live every moment with the players. The idea was for the biggest game in Emirates Stadium history to have the most emotional atmosphere, for Arsenal to feed off the sheer scale of the possibilities but it did not really happen. PSG killed the mood.
Luis Enrique’s team made it happen at the outset, settling into their passing rhythms straight away and stunning the Emirates with the early goal. It was certainly a worry from an Arsenal point of view to see how easily Dembélé was able to motor up through the centre of the field and go left for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who ran at Jurriën Timber. Which was an even bigger worry.
Kvaratskhelia popped the ball back to Dembélé, whose low first-time shot through a crowd was slightly scuffed but the precision made up for it, the ball kissing the far post on its way in. Cue delirium among the travelling Ultras, who lit flares and detonated a firecracker. PSG hogged possession for most of the first half, so slick and comfortable, Vitinha prominent. From right to left, Désiré Doué, Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia shimmered with menace. PSG’s movement was too much. Arsenal chased shadows. It was the remorselessness of the PSG press, as well. Arsenal had to work hard to construct their moves from the back. There were anxious moments as they did so.
The good news for Arteta was that his team dug out a foothold in the final 10 minutes of the first period, Bukayo Saka crackling to life, taking it upon himself to be the catalyst. When Jakub Kiwior pulled back for Merino, PSG were grateful to Neves for a last-gasp tackle.
Arsenal’s big chance of the half came at the very end of it, Myles Lewis-Skelly releasing Martinelli, who had only Donnarumma to beat from an angle on the left. The goalkeeper made an important block.
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Earlier, PSG could have had a second goal. Kvaratskhelia worked Raya but it was Doué who fully extended him on 32 minutes, darting inside and shooting violently for the near corner. Raya changed directions smartly to save. In between times, Kvaratskhelia wanted a penalty after running into a stray arm from Timber. He went down too easily.
Arsenal began to get frustrated with the officials, a collective howl greeting the decision on 43 minutes to penalise Saka for a minuscule touch on Nuno Mendes. Saka would have been away on goal. He was booked for his reaction. There was further angst at the start of the second half after Merino headed home from Declan Rice’s free-kick. After a ridiculously long delay, the VAR showed that Merino was offside.
Arsenal could feel the belief returning. They pushed higher. Rice, playing as the No 6 in the absence of the suspended Thomas Partey – who was missed – grew in influence. When he strode upfield in the 56th minute, he put Trossard through up the inside left. Trossard’s pace turned it into an even bigger chance. His underpowered shot was turned away by Donnarumma.
William Saliba made a vital challenge on Achraf Hakimi inside the Arsenal box and the question was whether Arteta’s team could make it happen at the other end. They could not. PSG reasserted themselves and it could have been worse for Arsenal if Barcola and Ramos had not blown their late chances.