Paris Saint-Germain secured a crucial 1-0 advantage in their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring early at the Emirates Stadium.
The French champions delivered a composed performance to maintain their slender lead, putting them in a favorable position ahead of the second leg at Parc des Princes on May 7. PSG coach Luis Enrique acknowledged the significance of the result while remaining cautious: “We showed the kind of team we are. The result means a little advantage for us. We can go to the final, but there is still one match.”
Despite the setback, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains optimistic about his team’s chances of reaching their first Champions League final since 2006. “We put so much into the game. It’s halftime and we have a big chance to be in the final,” Arteta insisted. “That’s the margins. That’s the level.”
The Gunners struggled to replicate the impressive form that saw them eliminate defending champions Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. Their normally fluid attack found limited opportunities against PSG’s disciplined defensive structure, with Leandro Trossard’s missed chance epitomizing their frustrating evening.
PSG’s victory continues their impressive run against English opposition in this season’s competition, having already eliminated Liverpool in the round of 16 and Aston Villa in the quarter-finals after previously overcoming Manchester City in the group stage. Arsenal remains the only Premier League side to defeat PSG this season, having won 2-0 in their October meeting.
The winner of this tie will face either Barcelona or Inter Milan in the final, with PSG seeking their first Champions League trophy after reaching the final in 2020. However, the Parisians will be wary of complacency given their history of dramatic European collapses, including their infamous 2017 elimination by Barcelona after winning the first leg 4-0.
Arsenal must now produce a special performance in Paris to keep their Champions League dream alive and reach what would be only the second final in the club’s history.
