The Gunners showed class in the first half as they inflicted PSG’s first defeat in the UEFA Champions League group stage follow-up game with a 2-0 win. Goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka maintained the 15-match unbeaten streak in all competitions and will be a great fillip towards the three points for Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
First Half Mastery
The damage was done in the first 45 minutes. Arsenal raced into a 1-0 lead when Leandro Trossard made the precise delivery for German striker Kai Havertz, who powered his header home. From halfway, Trossard had the vision to see Havertz, and his pinpoint cross allowed the German to outpace goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of PSG into an empty net.
Bukayo Saka doubled the Gunners’ lead after winning a set piece that he took himself from the right. Saka’s free kick from the right began with a crowd in front of it but curled away and into the far upper corner of the PSG goal. Saka sent a ball in that fooled both the PSG defense and Gianluigi Donnarumma, and it was 2-0 to Arsenal inside only half an hour gone.
PSG’s Response and Missed Opportunities
While poor at the start of the game, PSG were beginning to grow into it. Full-backs Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi were each unlucky not to have added goals before half-time, with Mendes hitting the post and Hakimi forcing David Raya into a good save. Yet, strong Arsenal defending helped them hold to their two-goal half-time cushion.
Although PSG came out stronger in the second half, they could not break through the Gunners’ well-set defense, despite the two admissions of ball striking with the woodwork.
Second Half Grit and The Debut of Merino
Arsenal pressed on and nearly got a third goal through Gabriel Martinelli, and it was shortly after an hour when Mikel Merino came off the bench for his debut with the powermaker.
The Gunners finished the game fairly comfortably to keep another clean sheet- their second in a row in the Champions League group stage, a first since 2007.
The Gunners finished the game fairly comfortably to keep another clean sheet- their second in a row in the Champions League group stage, a first since 2007.
Key data and stats
Arsenal maintained their unbeaten run against PSG over five European confrontations so far (P5 W2 D3).
Arsenal kept 17 clean sheets out of 32 matches in 2024, which is more than any other Premier League side, second only to Real Madrid across the European top five leagues.
Bukayo Saka’s direct free-kick for Arsenal was the first in a Champions League match since Thierry Henry turned one in against Roma in November 2002.
At 18, Myles Lewis-Skelly became Arsenal’s youngest Champions League player since 2014.
Up Next.
Arsenal are aiming for a clash against Southampton in the Premier League and before leaving for an international break. They will return to play against Bournemouth before hosting Shakhtar Donetsk on matchday three in the Champions League, keeping their string of unbeaten matches alive and firming up their group position
