“We’re at half-time.”
That was Mikel Arteta’s message to his players. They may have suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, but Arsenal’s manager was keen to emphasise that the tie remains very much alive.
Given the way the game started and finished, Arteta may be relieved about that. PSG opened the scoring through Ousmane Dembele after just four minutes. It marked the start of a period of dominance for the away side which lasted a quarter of the game. Rarely have Arteta’s Arsenal looked so clearly second best.
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If the quarter-final triumph over Real Madrid had a dreamlike quality, this was a game in which Arsenal awoke to the harsh realities of the sharp end of the Champions League.
Facing Madrid was a huge psychological test for this team. They had to overcome the badge, the Bernabeu, and a prophesied ‘Remontada’.
But from a tactical and technical perspective, PSG certainly appear to offer a greater challenge than Real ever posed.
In the final throes, there were chances for the French champions to extend their lead. Substitutes Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos will reflect on presentable opportunities to double their advantage.
Barcola goes close late on (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)
But in-between that early exhibit of intricate passing and devilish wide play and those late chances, Arsenal showed a capacity to adapt. They regained their footing, their composure, and had chances to draw level. PSG’s quality is not in question, but they showed occasional vulnerability.
Twice Arsenal released runners into the space behind Achraf Hakimi, but neither Gabriel Martinelli nor Leandro Trossard could beat the impressive Gianluigi Donnarumma. Mikel Merino thought he’d equalised by flicking home a Declan Rice free-kick, but VAR deemed him to be offside.
It’s difficult to draw sweeping conclusions from a tie that still has at least 90 minutes remaining. The margins are so fine. Had Martinelli or Trossard sent their shots an inch or two wider of Donnarumma’s outstretched hand, the scenario might look very different. Had Merino held his run a fraction longer, the entire tie might have turned on its head.
Whether those moments constitute signs for encouragement or cause for regret will be determined by events in Paris next week.
Merino equalised early in the second half but it was eventually rules out for offside (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)
“This is elite football, and a few centimetres can determine your future,” Merino told Arsenal’s official website. “So, hopefully in the second leg, those 10 centimetres can go to our side.”
Arteta made in-game adjustments to help Arsenal come to terms with PSG’s threat. The Arsenal manager suggested the team corrected “an issue” they had in the first 20 minutes which allowed them to stem the tide.
He would not be drawn on the specifics — the contest is not over yet. The question now is whether Arsenal have what it takes to overcome the deficit.
Perhaps they can draw inspiration from their female counterparts. Arsenal’s women suffered a one-goal defeat in the home leg of their Champions League semi-final against another French side, Lyon. A 4-1 win in the away leg took Renee Slegers’ team through to a first final in 18 years.
It is 19 years since the men reached a Champions League final. To do so again they will need to be more efficient in front of goal, more wise to PSG’s beguiling movement and intricate passing.
Donnarumma made some important saves (Adrian Dennia/AFP via Getty Images)
They will have Thomas Partey back from suspension, affording them the opportunity to restore Merino to the central striking berth, and Declan Rice to the barnstorming box-to-box role he has made his own. They will need more from their captain, Martin Odegaard, who struggled to make an impression on this game.
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They may not be able to afford another 20 minutes like the one that began this game. The first goal in Paris could well be pivotal.
“You have to do something special in the competition to have the right to be in the final,” said Arteta. “And the time to do it is going to be in Paris.”
He is right. But Arsenal have already produced special displays in the knockout stages of this tournament — a 7-1 victory at PSV Eindhoven, a pair of wins over Madrid.
It’s only half-time, and it’s only a single goal. But if Arsenal are to overcome this deficit to reach the Champions League final, they might need their best performance of the lot.
(Header photo: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
