Dembele’s early stunner stuns emirates as PSG claim 1-0 win in semi-final first leg.
Arsenal’s hopes of reaching their first-ever Champions League final took a massive hit on Tuesday night after a clinical Paris Saint-Germain side snatched a 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.
Ousmane Dembele’s composed finish in the opening stages proved the difference in a tense semi-final first leg, leaving Mikel Arteta’s men with it all to do in next week’s return leg in Paris.
The Gunners were left chasing shadows in the opening exchanges as Luis Enrique’s side put on a masterclass in possession and poise. The goal—borne from a breathtaking 26-pass move—began with Dembele surging forward and ended with the Frenchman stroking the ball in off the far post after a clever one-two with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The early blow left the home fans stunned, and Arsenal struggled to respond. PSG nearly doubled their lead as Marquinhos and Desire Doue both tested David Raya, while Fabian Ruiz struck both posts in a chaotic first-half spell.
Arteta’s side slowly found their feet, building pressure towards the break. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard both came agonisingly close, only to be denied by the towering Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose reflexes and reach proved vital.
Frustrations boiled over in the stands and on the pitch. Mikel Merino’s header early in the second half had the home crowd on their feet—but celebrations were cut short as VAR chalked it off for a narrow offside. The decision was met with boos at both half-time and full-time, with fans furious at referee Slavko Vincic’s officiating throughout the night.
Despite their growing possession, Arsenal couldn’t break through PSG’s well-drilled defence. Declan Rice’s galloping run offered brief hope, but Trossard’s effort was once again palmed away by the imperious Donnarumma.
Arteta remained optimistic after the final whistle. “We need something special in Paris,” he admitted. “But it’s still half-time. We can absolutely do it.”
Yet history does not favour the Gunners. They have never overturned a home first-leg defeat in European competition, losing all five previous ties when trailing at the Emirates.
PSG, meanwhile, looked ruthless and composed. While their tempo dipped in the second half, they still carved out late chances that could have killed the tie. Substitute Bradley Barcola dragged a golden opportunity wide, and Gonçalo Ramos rattled the crossbar in stoppage time.
Luis Enrique will feel his side should’ve taken more than a single goal back to the Parc des Princes, but with a lead in hand and no away goals rule to worry about, the French giants hold the advantage.
For Arsenal, this semi-final is far from over—but their path to glory now runs through Paris, and they’ll need a night of magic to get there
