Arsenal vs. PSG Champions League highlights: Ousmane Dembélé goal wins it in London
PSG beat Arsenal 1-0 on Tuesday in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals, and will bring that advantage to Paris for a dramatic finale next week, 90 minutes away from reaching the final.
Ousmane Dembélé scored in the fourth minute for the French champions, the only goal of the night at the Emirates Stadium in London.
"It was a great night for the group," PSG midfielder Vitinha said. "We had the ball for most of the game. We had to adapt to the different circumstances of the match and we did, defending and attacking well."
There was drama throughout the match, with a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia penalty appeal waved off in the first half for PSG and an Arsenal goal overturned through VAR for offside early in the second half. PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma came up huge for the visitors, denying Arsenal a number of clear-cut opportunities to equalize.
The second leg in Paris is set for May 7 and the winner of the tie will face Barcelona or Inter Milan in the final at the Allianz Arena in Munich on May 31.
Here's how Tuesday's match unfolded:
Arsenal goal overturned! Mikel Merino's score canceled out
It looked like Arsenal had tied the match when stand-in striker Mikel Merino headed home on the end of a Declan Rice free kick, but VAR check overturned the call on the field for offside.
PSG holds a 1-0 advantage in the 55th minute.
Halftime: PSG 1, Arsenal 0 on Dembélé goal
Paris Saint-Germain has a 1-0 lead over Arsenal through the first 45 minutes of their UEFA Champions League semifinal toe, with PSG getting an Ousmane Dembélé goal in the fourth minute.
PSG had 60% possession in the first half and also had a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia penalty shout rejected, but Arsenal pushed back after settling into the game, with Gianluigi Donnarumma making a terrific save in a 1-on-1 situation with Gabriel Martinelli ahead of the halftime whistle.
PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia denied penalty shout
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was brought down by Jurrien Timber after dribbling through three Arsenal defenders in the penalty, but was not awarded a spot kick.
Ousmane Dembélé goal! PSG leads 1-0
Paris Saint-Germain jumped out to a lead in the fourth minute, with Ousmane Dembélé finding the back of the net on a skipping shot that found its way through traffic, to conclude a sweeping PSG counter-attack.
It's Dembélé's 25th goal in 25 matches across all competitions since the start of the calendar year.
After conceding the early goal, Arsenal is trailing for the first time in the knockout rounds.
Arsenal, PSG lineups today
Arsenal: Raya - Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly - Odegaard, Merino, Rice - Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Paris Saint-Germain: Donnarumma - Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes - Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves - Doué, Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia
Arsenal a Champions League favorite? Not so fast
Asked whether Arsenal should be considered favourites to lift Europe's most prestigious club trophy this year, manager Mikel Arteta met reality head-on.
"When you look at the history, no, because we've never done it," he said. "Hopefully, if someone believes we can do it it's because of the performances and what is the team transmitting against big opposition."
– Reuters
PSG vs. Arsenal is rematch from earlier in campaign
PSG will be a tougher proposition for Arsenal when the sides meet for a second time in this season's Champions League, the French club's manager Luis Enrique said on the eve of their semi-final first leg on Tuesday.
Goals by Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka led Arsenal to a comfortable 2-0 victory over PSG in a group game in October, with the French champions failing to impress.
PSG have since won their fourth straight Ligue 1 title, however, and reached the French Cup final as well as eliminating Premier League champions Liverpool and Aston Villa en route to the Champions League's final four.
Asked about PSG's defeat by Arsenal in October, Luis Enrique told reporters on Monday; "That was seven or eight months ago. I saw the match again. We're a much better team today."
– Reuters
Champions League schedule
Semifinals
First leg:
- Arsenal vs. PSG, 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 29
- Barcelona vs. Inter Milan, 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 30
Second leg:
- Inter Milan vs. Barcelona, 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6
- PSG vs. Arsenal, 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 7
UEFA Champions League final:
- May 31 in Munich, Germany
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