Battle-hardened Arsenal too powerful for PSG as they serve notice to Europe’s elite

There was a time when a club with the wealth of Paris St-Germain, and a few others besides, threatened to leave an old heritage piece like Arsenal behind, yet again this was a night when the scope of Mikel Arteta’s rebuild was clear once more.
Arsenal have come to be one of the best sides in the Premier League. This night, there was again the possibility that they might be one of the best in Europe. PSG are going through yet another of their new dawns – fewer big stars, more projected great promise – and against Arteta’s battled-hardened team it never looked in doubt for the home side.
This is not the PSG side of Kylian Mbappe, or indeed of Lionel Messi, or Neymar – all of whom have come and gone at PSG since these two clubs last met in the Champions League group stages eight years ago. One might say that in spite of those huge names, and others beside, coming through this great Qatari state project it has been Arsenal’s change that has been more profound.
That Arsenal era of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, as well as Shkodran Mustafi and Carl Jenkinson, all of whom started when last PSG played at the Emirates, feels like it belongs to another club. That was to be Arsenal’s last Champions League season of the Arsene Wenger era. Since then PSG have reached a Champions League final, and two further semi-finals, but there was no doubt they are now behind Arteta’s side in their development. One need only ask their manager.
Luis Enrique was unequivocal about the difference in quality between the two teams. Asked about the two errors from his goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma for the two first-half goals, PSG’s Spanish coach at first seemed like he was to absolve the Italian. Only then did Enrique implicate his whole side. “Like his colleagues, Donnarumma was far from the standards required for this team,” Enrique said. “Our opponents were much better in terms of intensity and they won every duel.”
Kai Havertz embarrassed Donnarumma for the first goal, and Arsenal’s captain on the night, Bukayo Saka, played on the Italian’s uncertainties for the second. In defence Arsenal were anchored by their own great Parisian, William Saliba. PSG finished with 62 per cent possession. They passed the ball more often. Yet they had one fewer attempt on Arsenal’s goal than the four Arsenal had on theirs. Overall, the home side were just too powerful.
The epic new Champions League format stretches so far into the season that it is hard to cast too far. Even so, Enrique was emphatic. “From the first minute Arsenal were superior to us in the game,” he said. “We knew from the first minute they were going to press us with aggression. They did it very well and we could not handle that kind of pressure.”
Arsenal look comfortable with the demands of European football. They have a cynical edge when required. Enrique’s more conventional Spanish possession-based approach rarely looked effective. Indeed, he would later substitute his key playmaker Vitinha. Once in their stride, Arsenal are very difficult to disrupt and they were two goals up within 35 minutes.
To a rapturous welcome, there was an Arsenal debut in the second half for the Spain international and Euro 2024 winner Mikel Merino, back from injury and on as a substitute. Jurrien Timber was replaced at half-time with Jakub Kiwior. Arteta said that the Dutch defender had a muscular issue. Yet by the end, Arsenal’s general control was such that among all the young French talent, so came the Islington teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly, at 18 making his Champions League debut.
It was notable that Arsenal went for the throat as early as the third minute when a very direct ball through the middle of PSG picked out Gabriel Martinelli’s run and Donnarumma had to be brave to save at his feet. From there the home side refused to let PSG settle and a line-up that, for all its undoubted skill, looked comparatively lightweight.
Unbeaten in their domestic season until this night, and having won their first Champions League game against Girona, this was a very different challenge for PSG and they struggled with it. Enrique set up with the South Korea international Lee Kang-in as a false nine. He had the two Portuguese playmakers, Vitinha and Joao Neves, on the ball as much as possible. Yet when Arsenal moved on goal they did so that much more decisively.
The first Arsenal goal was of the kind that you see much more rarely now. It was a cross from Leandro Trossard who had created the chance from very little, driving from midfield with the ball – slowing down Vitinha and then accelerating past him. The Belgian dropped the ball in between goalkeeper and striker and it was a straight contest of courage and speed. Havertz put his head on it before Donnarumma arrived with an unconvincing flap at the ball.
Kai Havertz heads Arsenal into the lead 💥How about that ball from Leandro Trossard? 👏#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/Glzghe7GQm
Ten minutes later, Arsenal scored a second when Saka won a free-kick out on the right as Nuno Mendes found him increasingly difficult to handle. From the whipped left-footed ball in, Thomas Partey looked like he might have got a touch but the replays suggested Saka’s hit had found its way through without interference. Once again Donnarumma had hesitated at the crucial moment.
The set-piece kings are at it again 👑No player could get a touch on Bukayo Saka’s free-kick which ends up beating the goalkeeper ✌️#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/uqrG8n5AXs
Enrique switched his side in the second half to a more direct approach. Vitinha and the French teenager Desire Doue were replaced. Fabian Ruiz and Randal Kolo Muani offered more threat. Joao Neves struck the bar with a shot clipped first time with the outside of his foot. Yet PSG seemed as far off by the end as they had when they started, against an Arsenal team that Enrique pointed out were just as comfortable sitting back to defend their lead as they had been pursuing their two first-half goals.
While Thierry Henry was pleased with Arsenal’s victory he is of the opinion that the Gunners did not beat a vintage PSG side tonight and that it cannot be described as a “statement win”. “Go to Inter and win,” he told CBS, referring to Arsenal’s future Champions League opponents. “Then I can be loud as an Arsenal fan and say ‘Hey, we can win in Europe’.” 
“Arsenal, you have my flowers.” 💐Thierry, @Carra_23 and @MicahRichards discuss Arsenal’s convincing win over PSG 👇 pic.twitter.com/oTYls3IpCe
After missing out on the Premier League title last season by only two points and losing the Euros final with England in the summer Bukayo Saka says he has a lot of “hunger in my belly” and explained how his pre-match team talk involved telling his team-mates they needed to make a “statement” tonight. 
Bukayo Saka isn’t spilling any secrets on Arsenal’s set pieces 😅The 23-year-old is determined to bring trophies back to Emirates Stadium 🏆#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/t5t0XI019J
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was understandably pleased with the result and paid tribute to Kai Havertz after the match, describing him as having an “incredible football brain” and being “one of our main players”.
“Really happy. We played a big opponent, a team who has a lot of  personality, that is very difficult to deal with, especially when you don’t have the ball but I think in the first half we dominated and caused them a lot of issues. but the second half was a different story.”
On Havertz: He’s been unbelievable. His football brain the way he understands space, his timing, the way he brings people together, he just guides the team and then his work ethic is incredible and now every time he’s around the box he’s a real threat – he’s one of our main players at the moment.”
vs Everton ⚽️vs Wolves ️⚽️vs Brighton ⚽️vs Bolton ⚽️vs Leicester ⚽️vs PSG ⚽️Kai Havertz becomes the first Arsenal player to score in six consecutive appearances at the Emirates Stadium since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2019 (via @HarveyDownes92) pic.twitter.com/sAOwBYpbEJ
On set-pieces “It’s another weapon that we have. We have great takers and we have a very physical team at the moment that we can put out there, we work on that a lot. We give credit first of all to the coaches for the work they have done and then the players, for buying into it and understanding that these are game-changers. If we dominate every phase of play then we become a much better team.” 
Speaking after the game Kai Havertz said: “We played very well, especially in the first half. In the second half we were a bit too passive, but this is a great result for us and a good three points.
When asked why he does so well at the Emirates, where he has scored for six consecutive matches he said: “I don’t know, It feels great to play here. I love this stadium, I love the fans and I’m so thankful to be here and to be play with thiss team.
On his improvement on the physical side of the game: “It was a big step for me. Back in the day I wasn’t really a player who liked the duels but now I love it and I love to help the team with that.
On where Arsenal are in terms of Champions League contention: “I think we are there. If we can win against teams like this, it’s important, it gives us a big boost. Last year we were so disappointed, it was tough to go out, to lose against Bayern but we grew up as a team and we want to get better this year.”
“It feels great to play here, I love the stadium, I love the fans.” 🗣️Kai Havertz is relishing life at Arsenal right now 🙌#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/hsi84iG4er
Arsenal had to be more cautious in the second half but this team is just as comfortable defending their penalty box as they are attacking the opponent’s. The “deep block”, as it is known in football parlance, does not bother Arsenal. They can do it all day. PSG forced them back in the second half but, aside from a couple of half-chances, never really looked likely to score. 
That’s it. A comfortable win for Arsenal, who had to endure a modicum of pressure midway through both halves but rarely looked in trouble once they had taken the lead. Fine performances by Saka, Raya and Arsenal’s centre-halves, who dealt with everything in commanding fashion. The Gunners are up to eighth place in that enormous Champions League table, with four points, while PSG are down in 18th with three.
FT: Arsenal 2-0 PSGThe home side take all three points. ✅#UCL pic.twitter.com/DiM6MRLEdt
Miles Lewis Skelly comes on for Bukayo Saka to get a taste of Champions League action. Saka is warmly applauded as he walks around the perimeter of the stadium. He has produced yet another goal for Arsenal, and terrorised the PSG with his running in the first half.
It looks as though Arsenal have weathered the storm, such as it was. More of a stiff breeze than Hurricane Helene, but if they can only keep a clean sheet it will be a welcome result for Arteta’s side.
Penalty shout for PSG. Kolo Muani has a shot which deflects off Gabriel and hits Calafiori on the arm. I’ve seen them given, but fortunately the referee exerts common sense and deems it accidental. That’s still a let-off though for the Gunners, even if a penalty award would have been harsh.
Arsenal are struggling to find their groove and so introduce Gabriel Jesus for Trossard, who made another telling contribution for Arsenal tonight, with his breakthrough assist.The Gunners find their way up the other end again and Martinelli has a strike at goal, but his low shot is comfortably dealt with by Donnarumma.  If Martinelli’s finishing was on point he would be one hell of a player.
The substitutions appear to have woken PSG out of their slumber, who go very close through Joao Neves, who reacts first to an attempted clearance from a corner and as his shot bounces up dangerously, Raya manages to turn it against the crossbar. 
An important save that by Raya, as PSG have their tails up all of a sudden. In fact, there’s Fabian Ruiz trying his luck but his shot flies over.And now it’s Lee’s turn. That’s a great effort by him, his 25-yarder swerves deceptively from in to out, and Raya is again called into action.
Huge cheers at the Emirates to greet new signing Mikel Merino, who is making his first appearance for the club after suffering a serious shoulder injury in his first training sessions. Merino has already crunched into a tackle, which pleased the home support. He has a reputation for being a powerful presence in midfield. 
Kolo Muani and Fabian Ruiz are on for PSG, with Doue and Vitinha coming off.
Arsenal are starting to retreat a bit now, with PSG enjoying perhaps their best spell of the game so far. Joao Neves struck the bar from a corner. 
At the risk of tempting fate, Arsenal were looking this dominant on Saturday before Leicester came from two goals down to level. The Gunners need to be more ruthless in front of goal if they are to avoid a nervy second half.
PSG will be hoping to show more purpose this half. They have an inexperienced side and it is beginning to show. The Gunners are outmuscling the visitors in the challenge and look more of a threat on the attack. 
To prove the points, Arsenal win back possession and then construct a wonderful move on the right involving first-time passes from Saka and Trossard, a deft flick from Havertz and a fierce left-footed shot from Martinelli which unfortunately for them is directed straight at Donnarumma. Martinelli went for power there but he had time to pick his spot and make it 3-0.
Arsenal have made a half-time substitution, with Jacob Kiwior coming on for Jurrien Timber. Let’s hope it’s nothing serious for the Dutchman, who missed all but one-and-a half-matches of last season with an ACL injury. The Pole has slotted in at left-back with the adaptable Calafiori moving over to right-back.
Arsenal deservedly leave at the break after a patient opening 20 minutes and then two goals to reflect their superiority so far. PSG had a dangerous two minutes when Nuno Mendes and Hakimi both might have levelled, but that free-kick was a real gut-punch for Luis Enrique’s side.
May I humbly direct your attention to our post at 8.03pm? Set pieces make the difference for Arsenal again… 
Arsenal double their lead and… surprise, surprise… it’s from another set-piece. This one is most unconventional, though, as Saka sends in a low free-kick from out on the right flank and four players fail to make contact with it in a crowded area, including Donnarumma. Partey tried to touch it in but it looks like he missed it – so it’s Saka’s goal.
That’s the closest PSG have come so far. Nuno Mendes shows great pace to cut inside from the left and then dispatch a fizzing low angled drive past Raya, who is relieved to see it skim his far post. A great effort by the Portuguese.
And a minute later they’re in again, this time from the other flank, where Ashraf Hakimi leaves Calafiori for dead and sees his low shot repelled by Raya. He should have really looked to play in a team-mate there as he was aiming from a very tight angle. This is end-to-end stuff.
It took Kai Havertz until December 17 (26 matches) to score five goals for Arsenal last season. This year, he has reached that mark in just nine matches. 
That is the exact sort of goal that Kai Havertz was signed to score. Attacking the box from deep, using his aerial ability and timing his run to perfection. When the delivery is as good as that, from Trossard, it is basically impossible to stop. 
Kai Havertz heads Arsenal into the lead 💥How about that ball from Leandro Trossard? 👏#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/Glzghe7GQm
That’s a brave opening goal for Arsenal. Thomas Partey wins possession on the left and plays a pass to Leandro Trossard. The Belgian sends over an inviting cross into the area and Havertz, with Donnarumma bearing down on him, rises to meet the ball first and heads it over the Italian goalkeeper and into the net. Old school. 1-0 to the Arsenal.
It’s been an even opening quarter of an hour. The visitors have had a couple of half-chances through Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes, the former meeting a corner and the latter trying his luck from range, but David Raya has yet to be troubled.
At the other end Havertz breaks down the right and works his way into the penalty area but there is no one in the area to meet his rolled pass.
It already seems clear that little Vitinha, at the base of the PSG midfield, will be the key man for the French side. He’s a fantastic technician who wants to dictate the tempo of the game and draw the sting from Arsenal’s high-intensity pressing. If he can do so, PSG will be able to play the game they want to play. 
 
That was close from Saka!Arsenal have started bravely, as Arteta had requested pre-match. Saka cuts in from the right and sends a sumptuous, curling effort narrowly wide of the far post. It had the height but not the accuracy to find top bins with Donnarumma beaten all ends up.
A fun fact for you: I’m told the mascot with Bukayo Saka before kick-off was the seven-year-old son of Raheem Sterling. Thiago Sterling is in the Arsenal academy. 
Gabriel Martinelli is down after a challenge with Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was very brave to come out and meet a massive punt from David Raya before the onrushing Brazilian. Martinelli has picked himself up but Donnarumma, who has only just returned from injury, is looking slightly more tentative. But he’s up now too and play resumes. Inteeresting route one approach there from the hosts. Arsene Wenger must be choking on his coffee.
A big question tonight is whether PSG will be able to cope with Arsenal’s aerial power at set-pieces. Arsenal are totally dominant from corners and free-kicks in the Premier League, which has traditionally been a far more physical and combative division than Ligue 1. 
The PSG team is not particularly imposing. Their midfield three, of Vitinha, Zaire-Emery and Joao Neves has an average height of 5ft 9in. The likes of Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori and Havertz will be licking their lips at every corner. 
The teams are out, the anthem is playing and we’re ready to roll, with 3,000 PSG fans contributing to the an atmosphere of keen excitement ahead of kick-off. Bukayo Saka captains the side for only the third time and the Arsenal players get in a huddle for some final words before kick-off,
Arsenal fans will be relieved that Riccardo Calafiori shook off the knock that he received during the 4-2 win over Leicester on Saturday. The former Bologna defender has been a revelation since arriving this summer, bringing a cavalier and slightly maverick interpretation to his role, which involves occasionally marauding into enemy territory to build attacks and even rifling a debut goal into the top corner from distance against Manchester City. 
Against Leicester no player had more shots, one more headers or more duels. 
Here Sam Dean profiles Arsenal’s wild horse.
The atmosphere is building nicely at the Emirates where the French fans are making themselves heard.
This is nothing new for them, having reached the semi-finals three times in the last five years, and the weather isn’t raining on their parade tonight.As well as making an almighty racket in the away section a few of them have decided to dispense with their tops. 
Frank Lampard brought Kai Havertz to Chelsea and says his relaxed demeanour can be deceptive.”When he first arrived it wasn’t clear what he was, whether he was a No 8 or a shadow striker.”He’s a really nice lad, really relaxed and sometimes he can come across as too relaxed, but I think underneath he’s got that ruthless streak in him, he just doesn’t always show it.
“He’s so talented and clever off the ball that he can can drop into midfield to give the side extra numbers there.”But then he’s got such quick movement that he can then move into goalscoring areas. ”He’s got really quick movement and he’s really hard-working off the ball.”
In his pre-match interview Mikel Arteta has said that he is “very excited” about tonight’s match. 
“I’m really looking forward to it these are the sort of games you want to play, the sort of scenarios you want to be involved in as a top player.
“We have a lot of qualities, a lot of flexibility, strength and physicality, everything that we are looking for in a team.”“We must be us. We must play with courage, a lot of determination, use our clout and get momentum.”
On PSG: “They want to get the ball back as soon as they lose it they are a very difficult opponent to play.”On Enrique: “He’s won it, he has huge experience with different temas and I have huge respect for him.”
For PSG Desire Doue, another exciting starlet, is given a place in the forward line as a replacement for the naughty-stepped Ousmane Dembele, with Kang In-Lee pushed forward at the expense of Marco Asensio. There is also no place in the lineup for Fabian Ruiz.
PSG: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ashraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Warren Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Joao Neves; Kang In-Lee, Desire Doue, Bradley BarcloaSubs: Safonov, Tanas, Fabian Ruiz, Asensio, Kolo Muani, Mayulu, Lucas Beraldo, Skriniar, Zague, El Hannach, Mbaye
The starting 1⃣1⃣! 📋🔴🔵#ARSPSG I #UCL pic.twitter.com/1Zq7JOE8eg
Arsenal are unchanged from the team that beat Leicester 4-2 on Saturday, while new signing Mikel Merino has been deemed fit enough for a place on the bench. The Spain international has yet to feature for Arsenal after injuring his shoulder on his first day of training after an accidental collision with Gabriel.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard. Subs: Neto, Porter, Lewis-Skelly, Robinson, Kiwior, Kacurri, Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji, Jesus.
Our first 11 against @PSG_inside #UCL #ARSPSG pic.twitter.com/RVQlWDNNX0
One man with strong links with PSG is Mikel Arteta. The Arsenal manager spent his formative years at the Ligue 1 club after moving from Barcelona as a callow 18-year-old. There he roomed with both Mauricio Pochettino and Ronaldinho, the extraordinary Brazilian forward, whom Arteta described as having “an aura”. “He is the only player that I have seen in history that could transform, by himself, two clubs. He did it in Paris, and he went to Barcelona in one of their worst moments and transformed them.” Sam Dean reveals all.
It’s been raining cats and dogs in London all day, but that’s unlikely to affect the well-drained Emirates turf tonight, sinkholes notwithstanding. Neither will the weather be considered an advantage as there is higher annual rainfall in Paris than London. The two teams are also well-matched in terms of previous meetings: in 2016 Arsene Wenger’s side earned a 1-1 draw in Paris before being held 2-2 in north London by Unai Emery’s team, with Marquinhos the only surviving current player from those encounters. 
Before then you have to go all the way back to 1993, when Arsenal vanquished the French 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals on the way to Cup Winners’ Cup glory. It remains, along with the 1970 Fairs Cup (the precursor to the UEFA Cup/Europa League) their only major European club trophy to date.
Good evening. Arsenal host Paris St-Germain at a rainswept Emirates Stadium in one of the plum ties of Champions League Matchday. The Gunners are hoping to get their first win in the newly restructured competition having drawn their opening match 0-0 at Serie A side Atalanta.
Domestically Arsenal have developed an assurance and robustness that has returned points in the Premier League’s toughest fixtures, but the same cannot be said in continental competition. Arsenal failed to progress beyond the Europa League semi-finals in three attempts under Arteta, and achieved par performance by reaching the quarter-finals of last season’s Champions League. They were knocked out by Bayern Munich, after struggling against Porto in the last 16. Following a draw at Atalanta a fortnight ago, for which the visitors were indebted to David Raya’s remarkable double-save, Arsenal have won just one of their last six in the Champions League.
Last season’s campaign was Arsenal’s first since 2016-17, and the new ‘Swiss model’ offers them a chance to burnish their reputation against Europe’s elite. Despite the loss of Kylian Mbappe, PSG belong in that bracket having reached at least the semi-finals of this competition in three of the last five editions. Luis Enrique’s team are building around a young core including Willian Pacho, 22, Joao Neves, 20, Warren Zaire-Emery, 18, and Bradley Barcola, 22.
With Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha potentially joining Neves in the PSG engine room, an Arsenal midfield shorn of Martin Odegaard could find themselves outnumbered and outpassed. Perhaps Arsenal will cede more possession than expected at the Emirates, and will look to expose PSG in transition and at set-pieces. That said, with Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori offering Arsenal a new dimension from full-back, they may fill their midfield in other ways.
Whether PSG, without Ousmane Dembele after a reported bust-up with Enrique, have enough punch to hurt an Arsenal side the Spanish head coach described as the “best in Europe without the ball” is another question. Much could depend on the speed of Barcola from the left. The game could be won and lost on the flanks, with Bukayo Saka starting the season strongly and Gabriel Martinelli rounding into form.
Full team news on the way shortly.