Paris Saint-Germain will head into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Arsenal holding a 1-0 lead following a narrow victory in north London.
The atmosphere inside the Emirates was electric ahead of kick-off, with Arsenal fans buoyed by perfect English weather and the excitement of the occasion. However, their optimism quickly deflated within the first three minutes as Ousmane Dembele finished off a slick PSG move, putting the visitors ahead early. It was a dream start for PSG, who controlled the first 30 minutes with their fluid positioning and sharp passing. Arsenal struggled to cope, and Desire Doue forced a fantastic save from goalkeeper David Raya.
As the half progressed, Arsenal began to find their rhythm through set pieces and moments of magic from Bukayo Saka. They should have equalized just before the break when Gabriel Martinelli found himself one-on-one with Gianluigi Donnarumma, but the Italian goalkeeper came to PSG’s rescue with a crucial save.
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After the interval, Mikel Merino thought he’d equalized with a header, but it was ruled out by VAR. Donnarumma was called into action again, making an even more impressive save to deny Leandro Trossard’s shot from finding the corner.
Despite Arsenal’s best efforts, PSG managed the game well for the remaining 30 minutes, disrupting the flow and creating a few key chances. Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos both had opportunities to extend the lead, but Luis Enrique will be satisfied with his team’s performance as they leave the Emirates with the advantage.
