On Tuesday night, Arsenal achieved their first victory in the 2024/25 Champions League by defeating Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
The atmosphere was electric as home fans returned to support their team in European competition for the first time since their earlier clash with Bayern Munich.
The lush, wet pitch set the stage for a fast-paced and intense match, with both teams displaying impressive spells of possession. However, Arsenal quickly asserted their physical dominance over the smaller PSG squad.
The match remained balanced until a critical breakthrough occurred. Leandro Trossard delivered a precise cross, allowing Kai Havertz to ghost past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and head the ball into the net for Arsenal’s opening goal.
Donnarumma, once celebrated for his performances during Euro 2020, has seen his reputation decline, and a subsequent mistake led to Arsenal’s second goal.
Bukayo Saka sent in a dangerous ball from the right that slipped past Donnarumma and found the back of the net after bypassing several defenders.
Despite not creating numerous chances in the final third, Arsenal managed the game expertly. Their defense and midfield worked tirelessly to neutralize PSG’s technically gifted squad.
With an aggressive and adaptable defensive strategy, Arsenal players excelled in one-on-one duels, effectively limiting PSG’s star-studded attack.
In the second half, Mikel Merino made his debut, but it was PSG that began to gain momentum around the 60-minute mark.
Nevertheless, Arsenal remained solid, focusing on preserving their lead while threatening on counterattacks, forcing Donnarumma into several saves. They were denied additional goals by both the goalkeeper and the crossbar.
PSG nearly pulled one back when Joao Neves hit the bar, but their resurgence faded as the match progressed.
As the game drew to a close, Arsenal struggled to find a third goal that would have secured the win. Nonetheless, they comfortably managed to see out the match without major scares, clinching an important victory on home soil.
Arsenal Player Ratings
Goalkeeper & Defenders:
- David Raya (GK) – 6.5/10: Raya kept another clean sheet but wasn’t heavily tested. He made key saves, notably denying efforts from Achraf Hakimi and Lee Kang-in.
- Jurrien Timber (RB) – 7.5/10: Timber had an outstanding first half and was close to being named Man of the Match, performing exceptionally against the in-form Bradley Barcola before being substituted at halftime, hopefully not due to injury.
- William Saliba (CB) – 8.5/10: Saliba was outstanding, especially in the second half, making several crucial interventions. His clearance to deny Randal Kolo Muani from scoring was a highlight.
- Gabriel (CB) – 8/10: Gabriel impressed with his defensive resilience, making key blocks and tackles as Arsenal sat deeper.
- Riccardo Calafiori (LB) – 6/10: Calafiori showed flashes of potential but needs to manage his aggression better. He was caught out of position a couple of times but also made some notable defensive contributions.
