Champions League: Dembélé strikes early as PSG edge Arsenal at the Emirates
PSG are in the driver’s seat! The Parisians grabbed a huge 1-0 win over Arsenal on Tuesday night in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals, thanks to an early strike from Ousmane Dembélé.
Arsenal-PSG@20minutes
It took just four minutes for Dembélé to light it up at the Emirates, finishing off a brilliant 26-pass move set up by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Arsenal’s defense was left flat-footed—and just like that, PSG had the advantage.
It was the fastest goal Arsenal had conceded in the Champions League since 2016. And for Dembélé? Just another day at the office—45 goal contributions in 45 matches this season. Crazy numbers.
Arsenal fought back after a rough first half. Mikel Merino thought he had leveled it up around the 50th minute, but VAR stepped in and ruled him offside. PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was a wall, denying Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard to keep the clean sheet alive.
History was made, too. Myles Lewis-Skelly became the youngest English player ever to start a Champions League semifinal at 18 years and 215 days, only for Ethan Nwaneri to break that record minutes later at 18 years and 39 days. Arsenal’s future is bright—even if tonight wasn’t their night.
What’s next?
The second leg is set for May 6 at Parc des Princes. PSG have the edge, but Luis Enrique isn’t taking anything for granted: “Nothing’s done yet. Arsenal can turn this around anytime.”
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta is still dreaming big: “We need something special in Paris—and we can do it.”