BY AISHA MUHAMMAD MAGAJI
Paris Saint-Germain took a crucial step towards their first-ever Champions League title as Ousmane Dembele’s early strike earned them a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of their semi-final clash on Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium.
Dembele made the difference within just four minutes, finishing off a slick counter-attack he helped spark. Picking up the ball near the halfway line, the French winger fed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia down the left before continuing his run into the box. Kvaratskhelia returned the favour with a pinpoint pass, allowing Dembele to slam a low shot in off the far post—his absence in PSG’s group stage loss to Arsenal clearly felt no more.
From that moment, Luis Enrique’s men controlled the tempo with a disciplined, high-intensity performance that left Arsenal frustrated and without a breakthrough. The French champions will now return to Paris with a narrow advantage ahead of the second leg at the Parc des Princes on May 7, with one eye on a potential final against either Barcelona or Inter Milan.
Despite the win, PSG will be wary of their own history of dramatic collapses in Europe, and Arsenal—though wounded—remain in contention. The Gunners, who knocked out reigning champions Real Madrid with a 5-1 aggregate demolition in the quarter-finals, saw their 18-match unbeaten run at home in European competitions come to an end.
Manager Mikel Arteta had called Arsenal’s Champions League journey a “beautiful story,” but this chapter was a painful one. Pre-match, the atmosphere inside the Emirates was electric, with Declan Rice rallying his teammates in the tunnel and a stirring video message from Arteta playing on the stadium’s big screens. However, that fire quickly dimmed as PSG imposed themselves.
Dembele wasn’t done causing problems. He continued to torment Arsenal’s backline and nearly set up a second with a sharp pass to Desire Doue, whose low drive was palmed away by David Raya. Meanwhile, Kvaratskhelia was a constant menace on the flank and had a strong penalty claim waved off after tangling with Jurrien Timber.
Arsenal struggled to match PSG’s pace but carved out a golden chance just before halftime when Myles Lewis-Skelly played a sublime through-ball to Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian’s effort, however, was denied by a sensational stop from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Gunners thought they had leveled two minutes into the second half when Mikel Merino nodded in from a Declan Rice free-kick, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside. They came close again as Leandro Trossard’s curling shot was tipped wide by Donnarumma after another clever ball from Rice.
As Arsenal pushed forward, PSG shifted gears and began slowing the game down—managing possession with confidence and intent. Their patience nearly paid off when substitute Bradley Barcola waltzed through the defense but dragged his shot wide. Moments later, Gonçalo Ramos struck the crossbar with a thundering effort from close range, missing the chance to put the tie beyond reach.
Despite the slim margin, PSG’s performance was a statement of maturity and control. For Arsenal, the second leg is now a must-win in Paris—and while the odds have tilted, this semi-final battle is far from over.
