Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has charged his team to deliver a “special” comeback performance in Paris after Ousmane Dembele’s early goal gave Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) a 1-0 win in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium.
Dembele struck just four minutes into the game, capitalising on a fast break to hand the French champions a vital away advantage. Arsenal, despite creating chances of their own, were unable to find an equaliser in a cagey, emotionally charged affair.
PSG had opportunities to extend their lead late in the match, with Goncalo Ramos rattling the crossbar and Bradley Barcola missing from close range. Arsenal also threatened through Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, both denied by stunning saves from PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Speaking after the match, Arteta remained optimistic, insisting his team still has what it takes to pull off a dramatic turnaround.
“We are at half-time, and my message is the same as it was after we beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of the quarter-final,” he said.
“We have to go to Paris and win the game, and we are more than capable of doing it. If you want to win the Champions League, you have to do something special, and we are going to have to do something special in Paris to be there. We still have a chance to be in that final.”
The Gunners now have everything to play for in Paris, where only a statement performance will do against a confident PSG side eyeing just their second-ever appearance in a Champions League final.
