Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique will be returning to France full of confidence after watching his side against Arsenal.
PSG scored early through Ousmane Dembele and the French team then dominated Arsenal for much of the first half.
Mikel Arteta’s side were without Thomas Partey for the first leg of the tie owing to suspension and his absence really told.
Of course, that might be why Arsenal want to give Partey a new contract in lieu of him potentially becoming a free agent this summer.
PSG dominated Arsenal in midfield and Vitinha actually commented on Partey’s absence — a player the Gunners will look to as a difference-maker in the second leg.
Luis Enrique gives his Arsenal review
That being said, PSG boss Enrique did still think that Arsenal were ‘dangerous’ in some elements despite his side deserving their win in north London.
The Spaniard was speaking at his press conference via HaytersTV after PSG’s 1-0 win and he praised how Arsenal reacted after half-time.
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Also discussing PSG’s success, Enrique said: “I think the match had different phases. At the beginning there was an incredible atmosphere in the stadium — it was deafening the noise in the stadium.
“It was wonderful for us, we got off to a flying start with the goal that we scored, there was a high press and the goal actually gave us a boost of confidence that we needed in the first half.
“We had a hand over the game and I think following this the second half was littered with chances.
“In the second half Arsenal dominated a bit more, they were dangerous, especially at set-pieces, with the fouls, with the corners and with those long balls.
“It could have been worse, it could have been better, you know what, let’s wait for the second leg.”
Martin Odegaard has to improve in PSG second leg
Whilst Arsenal were hampered by the absence of Partey in midfield, there was still the opportunity for others to step up.
Unfortunately, Martin Odegaard failed to do exactly that — the former Real Madrid player was busy in his efforts but nothing was working for him.
Odegaard has often been criticised by Arsenal fans of late, perhaps unfairly at times.
But Arteta’s captain failed to lead by example in terms of the quality of his own display.
France’s media gave a mixed review of Declan Rice but they were a lot more scathing when it came to Odegaard’s efforts.
The Norwegian still has Arteta’s trust, and rightly so, but he really does have a point to prove when Arsenal travel to Paris next week.
