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.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
56 mins: Save!
Rice strides up the pitch with the ball and releases it across to Trossard.
Trossard weaves into the box and shoots but Donnarumma drops again and tips this effort wide of the far post!
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
53 mins: It’s been better from Arsenal who have played themselves into the game.
PSG attempt to assert some control by maintaining possession and forcing the Gunners out of their defensive shape.
DISALLOWED! Arsenal 0-1 PSG
50 mins: Arsenal’s joy turns to disappointment as the goal is chalked away.
VAR looked over the goal and decided that the Arsenal forwards were offside so the goal won’t stand.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 PSG (Mikel Merino, 47')
Response!
Arsenal win a free kick inside the oppositions final third. Declan Rice swings the ball into the box and picks out the head of Mikel Merino.
The makeshift forward glances the ball into the bottom corner and Arsenal are on level terms again.
Second half! Arsenal 0-1 PSG
No changes from either manager as Arsenal get the ball rolling at the Emirates once more.
Is there a way back into this match for them?
HT Arsenal 0-1 PSG
Alan Shearer praised Gianluigi Donnarumma at the end of the first half for making a save to deny Gabriel Martinelli.
He said: “Donnarumma is a huge figure when you're staring down at him. It's a great save.
“Arsenal have been much, much better in the last 10 minutes.”
HT Arsenal 0-1 PSG
That was a tale of two halves. PSG started as the sharper team creating six attempts with four of them on target.
Ousmane Dembele scored the only goal and shocked the Gunners but they came back into the game.
By half-time, Arsenal had five efforts and four on target for themselves.
There xG is way higher too at 1.22 compared to PSG’s 0.29.
Promising signs for the Gunners.
HT Arsenal 0-1 PSG
Half-time! Arsenal 0-1 PSG
45+3 mins: The match officials are booed as they head off the pitch.
Other than a few harsh yellow cards the referee has done okay.
His decisions have been the right ones for the most part.
Arsenal showed increasing promise as the half went on which will encourage Mikel Arteta going into the second half.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
45 mins: In quick succession, Saka and Hakimi are booked for dissent after decisions are given against their respective teams.
Chance!
Lewis-Skelly collects the ball into the middle and drives forward before slipping a pass in behind.
Martinelli sprints onto the ball, touches it into the box and shoots only for Donnarumma to deny him with a save to his left.
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