EMIRATES — Arsenal are still breathing, at least. A faint heartbeat still recognisable in their Champions League semi-final. The tie alive.
But Arsenal, for their part, managed to regain some composure, to wrestle some control back from a game that was slipping through their fingers like water. They travel to Paris next week a goal down, but hopes intact.
Mikel Arteta had told Arsenal’s fans to bring their boots for this momentous occasion, but 50,000 fans were still lacing them in their seats by the time PSG took the lead with a devastating goal after only 197 seconds.
WHAT A STRIKE FROM OUSMANE DEMBELE
PSG go ahead quickly at the Emirates thanks to the Frenchman's goal#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/hZe3vSLIhO
Dembele’s pass out wide to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – the penultimate of the move – was a little off, and Kvaratskhelia had to go out of his way to retrieve it before driving into the side of Arsenal’s box.
It was the 45th goal and assist this season – 30 in 2025 alone – for a 27-year-old who will be a hot topic in Premier League recruitment meetings ahead of this summer and, if PSG can win the Champions League, a serious Ballon d’Or contender.
Dembele landed the fatal first blow, but PSG had started ferociously, like a prize fighter raining down jabs and combinations so quickly the limbs and fists blur.
Gabriel Martinelli is denied an equaliser by an excellent Donnarumma save #UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/yful49ZWaw
In front of a wild Emirates crowd, they had only 25 per cent possession in the opening 15 minutes. By 20, Bukayo Saka had four touches, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli three, Leandro Trossard two.
They would’ve been two down had David Raya not pulled off a sharp dive low to his left to keep out Desire Doue’s shot.
Saka felt he had won the ball fairly from Nuno Mendes close to a PSG corner flag, only Gianluigi Donnarumma between him and the goal.
But the linesman flagged, the referee blew his whistle, and Saka was booked for booting the ball towards goal before screaming.
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Donnarumma had to make stunning, strong-wristed saves down low from Martinelli and Trossard.
The set piece kings looked to have struck again when Declan Rice swung in a free kick and Mikel Merino glanced in a header. To the naked eye, it appeared on, and the referee awarded the goal. But the VAR wanted another look.
The wait was long. When it was over, the VAR deemed Merino was a hair’s breadth offside.
In the final 10 minutes, Bradley Barcola came on from the bench and burst through Arsenal’s defence, only to roll the ball agonisingly wide. And, a minute later, Goncalo Ramos, another substitution, had time in the box and poked the ball at goal, beating Raya but hitting the crossbar.
They are still 90 minutes away from a first Champions League final in almost 20 years. Still breathing. Hearts still beating. Still alive.
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