Arsenal’s dream of reaching their first UEFA Champions League final since 2006 suffered a blow on Tuesday night as Paris Saint-Germain secured a narrow 1-0 win in the semi-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium. A fourth-minute goal from Ousmane Dembélé proved decisive, giving the French champions a slender advantage ahead of the return leg in Paris.
Dembélé capitalised on early pressure, rifling in a deflected volley that struck the post before nestling into the net. The early goal stunned the home crowd and allowed PSG to dictate the tempo for large portions of the match. Despite Arsenal’s spirited response, they were repeatedly denied by the brilliance of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made crucial saves to thwart Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Arsenal came closest to equalising in the second half when a goal was ruled out for offside, further compounding their frustration. Although the Gunners dominated possession for long spells, they lacked the cutting edge in the final third. PSG, under Luis Enrique, executed a disciplined and cohesive game plan, with midfielders Fabián Ruiz, João Neves, and Vitinha stifling Arsenal’s creativity and disrupting their rhythm.
The Gunners’ midfield trio—Declan Rice, Mikel Merino, and Martin Ødegaard—struggled to link up effectively, leading to disjointed phases of play. Former England captain Wayne Rooney, speaking as a pundit, criticised the subdued atmosphere at the Emirates and questioned the intensity of the home side. “It didn’t feel like a semi-final,” Rooney remarked, highlighting a lack of urgency from both players and fans.
In spite of the defeat, it was a landmark evening for Arsenal’s academy graduates. Myles Lewis-Skelly became the youngest English player to start a Champions League semi-final at 18 years and 215 days. His record was soon broken by teammate Ethan Nwaneri, who came on as a stoppage-time substitute at just 18 years and 39 days old.
Mikel Arteta’s side now face a daunting task at the Parc des Princes on May 7, where they must overturn the one-goal deficit to keep their European ambitions alive. A sharper performance in midfield and greater efficiency in front of goal will be essential if Arsenal are to book a ticket to the final.
