Arsenal 0-1 PSG: Key Takeaways from the Semi-Final First Leg

Paris Saint-Germain took a slender 1-0 advantage in their Champions League semi-final tie against Arsenal, thanks to Ousmane Dembélé’s early strike at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. While Mikel Arteta remains confident his side can overturn the deficit in Paris next week, the first leg highlighted several key factors. Here, BBC Sport (as per the provided text) analyzes the main talking points:

Partey’s Absence Felt Keenly

The suspension of Thomas Partey, picked up late in the quarter-final against Real Madrid, posed Mikel Arteta’s biggest selection dilemma. With Mikel Merino recently deployed upfront due to injuries, Partey’s absence forced a midfield reshuffle. Declan Rice dropped into a deeper holding role, away from the number eight position where he excelled against Madrid, while Merino returned to his natural midfield spot alongside Martin Ødegaard.

PSG exploited this adjustment early on, dominating possession (75% in the first 15 minutes) and finding space between the lines. Dembélé’s fourth-minute goal originated from him drifting into that central area, raising the question of whether the influential Partey could have intercepted the move. His return will be crucial for the second leg.

Kvaratskhelia Provides New Threat

While Arsenal beat PSG 2-0 in the league phase last October, the French champions have significantly improved and possess threats the Gunners did not face then, chief among them Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The Georgian winger, signed in January, provided the assist for Dembélé’s winner and gave Arsenal’s usually unflappable defender Jurriën Timber a difficult first half. Kvaratskhelia’s direct running required Bukayo Saka to track back frequently to double up on him.

While Timber grew more comfortable as Arsenal gained more possession in the second half, it was notable to see the Dutch international tested so severely.

Possession Battle & Control

Declan Rice’s pre-match huddle warning, reportedly “If we don’t have the ball, we die,” proved prophetic in the opening stages. PSG’s intense start pinned Arsenal back, denying them the control they typically seek.

Although Arsenal eventually gained a foothold and finished with 48% possession to PSG’s 52%, Arteta acknowledged the difficulty, stating post-match: “You cannot dominate this team in 95 minutes. Impossible. Forget about it.” Understanding when and where to press versus maintaining defensive shape against such quality remains key.

Fine Margins Decide First Leg

Ultimately, the first leg was decided by small details. Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG’s hero in previous rounds against Liverpool and Aston Villa, produced superb saves to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

At the other end, Arsenal survived PSG’s early onslaught without further damage, and later saw substitute Gonçalo Ramos hit the bar for the visitors. Mikel Merino also had a header ruled out for offside after a lengthy VAR check. “I saw two very good teams, but the margins are so small,” Arteta reflected. “They had efficiency in front of the goal. The keeper as well made a difference.”

Second Leg Poised

While PSG coach Luis Enrique was pleased with the advantage, he acknowledged his side missed chances to extend their lead and expects them to “suffer” in Paris next Wednesday (May 7th). Arteta remains optimistic, believing Arsenal are “more than capable” of winning in Paris but stating they will need “something special” to reach the final in Munich.