Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele delivered a decisive blow against Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal clash, securing a 1-0 advantage for the French side on Tuesday. The match, held at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, saw Dembele capitalize on an early opportunity, leaving the Gunners struggling to recover despite a fiercely contested 90 minutes.
PSG's defensive discipline shone through as they absorbed relentless pressure from the Premier League contenders, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making crucial saves. The result sets up a high-stakes second leg in Paris on May 7, where PSG will aim to protect their slim lead and advance to their first Champions League final since 2020.
Head coach Luis Enrique praised his team's composure but warned against complacency: "We showed resilience, but the job is only half done. The Parc des Princes will demand our utmost focus." PSG’s quest for European glory remains haunted by past collapses, including a notorious 2017 round-of-16 exit after squandering a 4-0 first-leg lead against Barcelona.
For Arsenal, the defeat marks a rare stumble in their otherwise stellar Champions League campaign. Manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the challenge ahead: "We’ll regroup and fight until the final whistle in Paris." With a place in the June 1 final against Barcelona or Inter Milan at Wembley on the line, the second leg promises a tactical showdown between two of Europe’s most ambitious clubs.
