Arsenal FC 0–1 Paris Saint-Germain

By Alonso Contreras

Paris Saint-Germain took a narrow but potentially crucial advantage back to the Parc des Princes after edging Arsenal 1-0 in a hard-fought UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg encounter in London. In a game filled with technical intensity, physical duels, and moments of elite defensive organization, it was Ousmane Dembélé’s early strike that separated the two sides.

First Half: A Lightning Start and Tactical Chess

It took Paris Saint-Germain just four minutes to silence the home crowd. With their first real attack, a fast combination play between Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi carved open Arsenal’s left flank. Hakimi’s low-driven ball found Ousmane Dembélé at the edge of the box, and the French winger, in fine form, arrowed a low strike past David Raya to make it 1-0. The goal was a statement of PSG’s attacking intent and their ability to punish lapses early.

Arsenal, stunned by the early setback, sought to settle through possession and midfield organization. Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice attempted to dictate tempo, but the Parisians’ midfield trio of João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, and Vitinha were unrelenting in their pressing and transitional sharpness.

The Gunners did grow into the game midway through the half. Bukayo Saka was a constant outlet down the right, drawing a yellow card from Hakimi in the 44th minute after one too many aggressive challenges. Leandro Trossard, who had already gone into the book in the 10th minute, saw a half-chance deflected wide, while Ødegaard fired just over with a curling effort after a clever layoff from Gabriel Martinelli.

Despite Arsenal gaining a foothold, PSG nearly doubled their lead when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia cut inside and forced a sharp save from Raya before the break. At half-time, PSG’s slender lead held, but both sides knew the tie was finely balanced.

Second Half: Intensity, Substitutions, and Missed Chances

The second half opened with Arsenal increasing the pressure and enjoying their best spell of possession. Trossard and Martinelli probed the PSG full-backs, while Saka continued to draw fouls and threaten with his runs. However, the visitors were defensively disciplined, anchored by the experience of Marquinhos and the athleticism of Willian Pacho.

Mikel Arteta made attacking changes in pursuit of an equalizer. Ødegaard was withdrawn in the 90th minute for teenager Ethan Nwaneri, while Jurrien Timber was replaced by Ben White to offer more drive from the back. Still, PSG’s shape held firm.

Luis Enrique, on the other hand, looked to maintain his team’s defensive structure and added fresh legs with Bradley Barcola replacing Dembélé in the 70th minute, and Gonçalo Ramos coming on for Désiré Doué six minutes later. João Neves, a standout in midfield, was subbed off for Warren Zaïre-Emery in the 89th minute after a commanding display that included a booking in the 46th minute.

Late Arsenal pressure produced a flurry of crosses and corners — the home side ended with three in total — but Gianluigi Donnarumma remained largely untested in the dying minutes, thanks to PSG’s collective defensive effort. The final whistle confirmed a huge away victory for the French champions.

Match Statistics

• Goals:

  • PSG: Ousmane Dembélé (4')

  • Arsenal: —

• Yellow Cards:

  • Arsenal: Leandro Trossard (10'), Bukayo Saka (43')

  • PSG: Achraf Hakimi (44'), João Neves (46')

• Shots:

  • Arsenal: 10 (5 on target)

  • PSG: 11 (4 on target)

• Possession:

  • Arsenal: 41%

  • PSG: 59%

• Fouls Committed:

  • Arsenal: 11

  • PSG: 15

Player of the Match: João Neves (PSG)

The young midfielder was everywhere — pressing, breaking up play, and distributing smartly. His tactical intelligence under pressure was instrumental in keeping Arsenal at bay.

Second Leg Outlook:With a 1-0 lead and no away goals rule in play, PSG will return to Paris knowing Arsenal will come out aggressively. But with their experience and firepower — and perhaps with Kylian Mbappé available — Luis Enrique’s side will feel confident of completing the job.