Arsenal 0-1 PSG
Champions League report 
by Layth Yousif 

196 seconds. That’s all it took to deflate the most fervent pre-match atmosphere Arsenal’s stadium has ever generated, club endorsed Tifo and all.

That was the time it took for Parisian billionaire moneybags PSG to score against Mikel Arteta’s side, to severely puncture hopes of only a second-ever Champions League final for the north London giants, who have been perennially underwhelming on the European stage. 

The Gunners joined PSG’s litany of English scalps, including Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa, when Ousmane Dembele shocked Arsenal when he fired home past David Raya from the tricky Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with only four gone. 

The French side dominated the opening stages, which saw Raya make a superb save from teenage talent Desire Doue.

Arteta’s side steadied the ship, to push the visitors back, testing keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma – who was as redoubtable as he was against Pep Guardiola, Arne Slot and Unai Emery’s earlier in the competition.

The giant Italian international saved excellently from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard either side of the interval, while the Gunners saw Mikel Merino’s header from a Declan Rice free-kick correctly ruled out for offside.

PSG had chances to double their lead as the clock ticked down to the relentless beat of drums from the vociferous PSG travelling support on a warm night in north London, but substitute Bradley Barcola shot wide, and Goncalo Ramos hit the bar.

Speaking after the match, Arteta said: “We’re at half-time.

“Half-time and my message is exactly the same following us beating Real Madrid at home 3-0 – that we have to go to Paris and win the game.”

He added: “If you want to win the Champions League final, you have to do something special and we’re going to have to do something special in Paris to be there.”

One bright hope for Arsenal is the fact PSG hero – and surely a prime contender for the next Ballon d’Or, Dembele, is an injury worry for the second leg next week, according to boss Luis Enrique.

Dembele was withdrawn in the 70th minute moments after he had appeared to go down clutching his hamstring.

“I don’t know,” Enrique said, when asked if the forward will feature in Paris.

“He’ll undergo tests tomorrow. It’s not serious, it’s something very minor, but he’s probably a doubt for the second leg.”