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

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal can ‘do something special’ in return leg in Paris

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 v Paris Saint-Germain

• Arsenal defeated 1-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in Champions League semi-final first leg
• 56’ SAVE! Trossard’s snapshot is pushed wide of the target (ARS 0-1 PSG)
• 50’ DISALLOWED! Merino’s goal is ruled out for offside (ARS 0-1 PSG)
• 47’ GOAL! Merino wins the header from a free kick and scores (ARS 1-1 PSG)
• 45’ SAVE! Donnarumma drops low to keep out Martinelli’s shot (ARS 0-1 PSG)
• 32’ SAVE! Raya drops low to the right and denies Doue (ARS 0-1 PSG)
• 4' GOAL! Dembele's blistering strike gives PSG early lead (ARS 0-1 PSG)

[29 April 2025 20:02 · Mike Jones]

Kick off! Arsenal 0-0 PSG

The Arsenal supporters unfurled a banner reading ‘Make It Happen’ ahead of kick off.

They are properly up for this match tonight and Mikel Arteta has told them to be loud throughout the game.

The visitors get the ball rolling at the Emirates Stadium and this Champions League semi-final is underway.

Arsenal fans unfurl 'Make It Happen' banner ahead of the Champions League semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain. (Miguel Delaney/The Independent)

[29 April 2025 19:58 · Jamie Braidwood]

Arsenal vs PSG reminder of team news and how to watch

Confirmed line-ups

Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.

PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Doue, Dembele

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Amazon Prime Video.