Arsenal vs PSG 0-1: Dembélé stuns Gunners in UCL semi-final

Arsenal face a daunting task in Paris next week after Ousmane Dembélé’s early goal secured a 1-0 win for Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final at the Emirates Stadium.

Dembélé silenced a roaring home crowd just four minutes into the game, converting Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s low cross with a calm finish that left goalkeeper David Raya no chance.

The goal capped off a blistering start from PSG, who swarmed forward with intensity, forcing Raya into a brilliant save from 18-year-old Desire Doué moments later.

Although stunned, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal gradually regained composure and began carving out opportunities of their own.

However, they were repeatedly thwarted by Gianluigi Donnarumma, who once again proved decisive in PSG’s Champions League campaign.

The Italian goalkeeper produced crucial saves to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, showcasing the same form that had helped eliminate Liverpool and Aston Villa in earlier rounds.

Arsenal thought they had drawn level in the second half when Mikel Merino headed home from a Declan Rice free-kick, but the goal was disallowed for offside after a lengthy VAR review.

PSG nearly doubled their lead late in the game through Bradley Barcola, who dragged his shot wide, and Gonçalo Ramos, who rattled the crossbar.

Post-match, Arteta acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead. “We have to do something special in Paris,” he told reporters.

Despite defeating Real Madrid at the Bernabéu earlier in the competition, PSG present a more balanced and dangerous threat, both in attack and defence.

For PSG manager Luis Enrique, the result marks another impressive triumph over Premier League opposition.

Having already knocked out Liverpool and Villa, PSG are now one step closer to only their second-ever Champions League final appearance in Munich, where either Barcelona or Inter Milan await.

While Enrique may rue missed chances to extend the advantage, his team’s composed performance under pressure at the Emirates – particularly in the hostile early atmosphere – demonstrated just how far PSG have come since their 2-0 loss to Arsenal in October during the Champions League league phase.