Arsenal v PSG LIVE: Dembele goal leaves Gunners frustrated and requiring Champions League comeback
Arsenal 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain: The Gunners will require a comeback after a frustrating night at the Emirates
Ousmane Dembele’s early goal leaves Arsenal requiring a second-leg comeback if they are to keep their Champions League dream alive as Paris Saint-Germain earned a 1-0 win to take back to the French capital.
Arsenal were unable to find the equaliser despite long spells of pressure at the Emirates, with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making two excellent saves to deny low shots from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard and Mikel Merino seeing his header from Declan Rice’s free-kick ruled out for offside.
Merino’s disallowed goal, which came after a three-minute VAR review, punctured some of Arsenal’s belief after they survived a blistering start from PSG, who struck inside four minutes when Dembele finished off a wonderful move with a low shot that snuck inside the post.
David Raya also made a strong save in the first half to deny Desire Doue’s low effort, and it could have been worse for Arsenal with Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos wasting chances on the break late on. Follow all the reaction from Arsenal v PSG below.
Wayne Rooney ‘disappointed’ by Arsenal fans and calls Emirates ‘subdued’
Wayne Rooney accused Arsenal fans of believing they were already through to the Champions League final and said he was “disappointed” with the atmosphere at the Emirates for their 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final first leg.
The former Manchester United striker said the Emirates was “subdued” after Ousmane Dembele’s early goal fired PSG into the lead, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making two key saves to protect their advantage in the second half.
Wayne Rooney ‘disappointed’ by Arsenal fans and calls Emirates ‘subdued’
'Mission accomplished'
"Mission accomplished this evening," Luis Enrique said. "Our sole objective is to win the second leg at home as well.
“With Arsenal, we cannot let our guard down and be complacent. This is a team who can completely rewrite history in one second and we'll be back to square one.
“Nothing is in the bag yet, as they'll have nothing to lose."
Luis Enrique on Donnarumma's excellence
Luis Enrique added: "That's the work of a goalkeeper, no? Save the team, they work everyday for that. In a semi-final, you need all the players [including Gianluigi Donnarumma].
"I think it's not important in that moment when you feel that energy. We need to prepare for the second match, it's going to be difficult.
“The result means a little advantage for us. We are going to suffer, we know that. I think we can go to the final but there is still one match."
Luis Enrique gives his reaction to Amazon Prime
The PSG manager said: "I think emotions are at that level in those kind of matches so it's difficult to analyse. Great atmosphere but we showed the kind of team we are.
“We tried to play our way and scored the goal early playing the way we play. We suffered sometimes but could have scored the second goal. The second match is going to be very tough.”
Will Partey make a difference?
"I think Declan [Rice] and Mikel [Merino] were enormous,” said Mikel Arteta when asked if his team missed Thomas Partey tonight.
"He [Partey] gives options and a different threat. It gives us flexibility to change the game.
"It's half-time and we have a big chance to be in the final."
More from Arteta
The Arsenal boss also spoke about the disallowed goal and his team’s missed chances.
"Great timing, the margins, millimetres offside,” he said after Mikel Merino’s equaliser was ruled out.
“The action of [Gabriel] Martinelli one-on-one, he has done that before. [Leandro] Trossard in a one-on-one and he [Donnarumma] makes the save.
“That's the margins, that's the level."
Arteta is disappointed with result
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he is disappointed with the result and believes his team deserved at least a draw.
The manager told Amazon Prime: "Disappointed with the result. We put so much into the game. We struggled first 10-15 minutes to get momentum and dominance. Disappointed not to get a draw at least.
"That is always the danger, credit to them [for their quick start]. They get out of a situation that is close. We had seven players behind the ball and they were clinical, sometimes you just have to recognise the talent of the individual."
Rooney reveals how Arsenal can win second leg
Wayne Rooney says that Arsenal must slow the game down at the Parc des Princes if they hope to get themselves into the Champions League final.
Speaking on Amazon Prime he said: “I hope Arsenal go on and win the competition, but they have to go in to the second leg with belief.
“They have to be patient, slow the game down, take the ball at the right times and be clinical.”
'It was a great night'
PSG midfielder Vitinha told Amazon Prime: "It was a great night, mostly for the group. It was a very good performance for the team. We had the ball most of the games. This game we had to adapt to the different circumstances and we did it. We defended well and we attacked well.
"That [the goal they scored] shows the dynamic that we have and the strong collective. It is not over and we have to have a strong match in Paris.
"He [Donnarumma] had a great match but the team was the key. We could have scored more but we are glad for 1-0 and we will do everything our power to go to the final.”
What will Arsenal do in the second leg?
More of the same says David Raya.
He explained: "Try to approach the game the same way. We played well, we put them on the backfoot, hurt them and we created a lot of chances as well. We know we can win against any team.
"That's what I'm there for. To help the team and luckily enough I managed to save it and happy with that. Let's go next week in Paris."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments