Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has issued a passionate call to his players to deliver a “special” performance in Paris next week, urging them to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg. The Gunners suffered a frustrating loss in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, with Ousmane Dembele’s fourth-minute strike proving the difference in a tightly contested match.
Despite the setback, Arteta remains defiant, emphasizing that the tie is far from over. “We are at half-time, and my message is exactly the same as it was after we beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of the quarter-final,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference. “We have to go to Paris and win the game, and we are more than capable of doing it. If you want to win the Champions League final, you have to do something special, and we are going to have to do something special in Paris to be there.”
The match began disastrously for Arsenal, with PSG capitalizing on a sluggish start to take an early lead through Dembele’s clinical half-volley. The French side dominated the opening 20 minutes, but Arteta’s tactical adjustments midway through the first half helped Arsenal regain a foothold. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard both tested PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma with one-on-one opportunities, but the Italian’s superb saves kept Arsenal at bay. A potential equalizer from Mikel Merino early in the second half was ruled out for offside by VAR, while PSG’s Goncalo Ramos struck the crossbar late on, leaving Arsenal fortunate to escape with only a one-goal deficit.
Arteta highlighted the fine margins that defined the game. “We had two one-on-ones with Donnarumma, and if they go in, it’s a different story,” he told Amazon Prime. “But he made the saves, and that’s the difference in the Champions League. The margins are so small, and it didn’t go our way.” Despite the disappointment, Arteta was encouraged by his team’s resilience after the early setback, noting an unspecified tactical tweak that shifted momentum. “It was an issue with the ball, and we corrected it. This is the difference in the Champions League,” he added.
PSG manager Luis Enrique, a former mentor of Arteta, praised his side’s performance but warned against complacency. “It is mission accomplished for this evening, but our objective is to win the second leg at home,” Enrique said. “With Arsenal, we cannot let our guard down. They can score quickly, and we are back to square one. Nothing is in the bag.” Enrique also provided an update on Dembele, who was substituted with 20 minutes remaining, suggesting his injury is not serious but could make him a doubt for the return leg.
Arsenal’s task in Paris on May 7 will be formidable. PSG have been formidable at the Parc des Princes, and their attacking prowess, led by players like Dembele and Bradley Barcola, poses a significant threat. However, Arsenal have shown their ability to rise to the occasion in Europe this season, most notably with a stunning 5-1 aggregate victory over holders Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. That tie saw Arsenal secure a 3-0 first-leg lead at home before sealing the victory at the Bernabeu, a performance Arteta hopes to replicate in France.
Arteta’s confidence stems from Arsenal’s ability to adapt and their hunger to reach their first Champions League final since 2006. “We will surely make some adjustments, and depending on the context of the game, we will make more adjustments,” he said. “We will go with a lot of enthusiasm, with a lot of desire, and with the feeling that we can do it.”