Arsenal face a major challenge to reach their first-ever Champions League final after falling to a 1-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
The French champions made a lightning start, opening the scoring in the 9th minute with a stunning team goal.
Ousmane Dembele, at the heart of the move, exchanged passes with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before slotting home via the inside of the post to finish off a 26-pass sequence that left the Emirates stunned.
PSG dominated the early stages and came close to doubling their lead through Marquinhos, Desire Doue, and Fabian Ruiz, whose effort hit both posts, while Arsenal struggled for rhythm and composure.
David Raya was kept busy in goal, but gradually, Arsenal began to push back.
Jakub Kiwior had a tame header saved before Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard were both denied by superb saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was in inspired form all night.
The second half saw Arsenal continue to press. Mikel Merino thought he had equalised shortly after the restart, heading in a Declan Rice cross, only for VAR to rule the goal out for a narrow offside.
The home crowd voiced their frustration at the decision—and again at full-time—as Arsenal were left empty-handed.
Arteta’s side threw numbers forward late on, but PSG held their defensive shape, and it was the visitors who looked more likely to score again.
Substitute Bradley Barcola squandered a golden chance when clean through on goal, while Gonçalo Ramos rattled the crossbar in stoppage time.
The result leaves Arsenal needing a win in Paris next week to have any chance of reaching the final in Istanbul. Manager Mikel Arteta remained defiant post-match: “It’s half-time. We have to go there and do something special, we’re more than capable of doing it.”
With a one-goal deficit, the tie remains finely poised. But Arsenal must make history, having never overturned a first-leg home defeat in European competition.
