LONDON — Arsenal maintained their unbeaten begin to the season by coasting to a 2-0 Champions League victory in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain, on an evening to neglect for PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on the Emirates. The win, Arsenal’s first within the revamped competitors following their 0-0 draw away to Atalanta on matchday one of many league section, lifts Mikel Arteta’s group into seventh place within the league stage — one of many prime eight slots that assure a spot within the Spherical of 16 later within the season.
Arsenal had been set on their option to victory when Kai Havertz headed the opening aim from Leandro Trossard‘s twentieth minute cross, however the aim was largely right down to a mistake by Donnarumma, who misjudged Trossard’s supply and collided with Havertz because the Germany worldwide headed into an empty web.
The previous Chelsea ahead has now scored 5 targets in 9 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners this season and he was spectacular once more in opposition to PSG. His motion and business within the ultimate third, in addition to being in the fitting place to attain Arsenal’s first, highlights why Arteta resisted the temptation to signal a brand new centre-forward in the summertime and saved religion with a participant who has developed a behavior for scoring on the large event.
PSG, who beat Girona of their Champions League opener, loved some intervals of stress within the second half, however by that stage, they had been 2-0 and pretty much as good as out of the sport. After Havertz opened the scoring, Bukayo Saka‘s thirty fifth minute free-kick simply beat Donnarumma at his close to submit after 4 gamers failed to attach with the ball because it flew in the direction of aim.
With the eight-game league section nonetheless at an early stage, it’s tough to gauge how essential this result’s for both facet of their try to achieve the latter rounds, however for Arsenal no less than, they’ve their first win within the competitors this season. PSG ought to be advantageous after Tuesday’s setback, although they cannot afford many extra poor performances in the event that they’re to safe a top-eight end. — Ogden
Donnarumma makes extra important errors on the large stage
It is wasn’t the primary time — and will not be the final both, sadly — however Donnarumma had one other unhealthy European night time on Tuesday on the Emirates. The Italy worldwide goalkeeper was at fault on each Arsenal targets, first by lacking utterly the cross by Trossard and letting Havertz rating. Then by letting Saka’s free kick go straight behind his web.
Regardless of the occasional sharp save, just like the reflex cease to disclaim Martinelli from shut firstly of the second half, it is not ok once more from the Euro 21 winner. He is been a luxurious in Ligue 1 between the posts, however he is faltered in key Champions League moments, like final season’s semifinal in opposition to Dortmund, to call one other instance.
If Paris wish to win the Champions League sooner or later, they are going to want a prime keeper. They thought they’d discovered him once they recruited the previous Milan man again in 2021, but at 25, he nonetheless hasn’t actually improved or gotten a lot better in his 4 seasons within the French capital. — Laurens
Odegaard’s absence is definitely displaying Arsenal’s energy, not their weak spot
Keep in mind when Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard returned from the September worldwide break with an ankle ligament damage sustained whereas enjoying for Norway, and the large query was about how the Gunners would cope with out him?
The previous Real Madrid midfielder is a prime participant, little question about that, however it’s a testomony to the rising energy and depth of supervisor Mikel Arteta’s squad that they have not missed the 25-year-old within the lineup. This was the sixth recreation that Arsenal have performed with out Odegaard since he was sidelined by damage, and so they have not misplaced any of them.
There have been some powerful fixtures in that run, too: Spurs and Manchester City away noticed Arsenal financial institution 4 factors with a win and draw, whereas PSG had been brushed apart on the Emirates after Europa League winners Atalanta had been held to a 0-0 draw on matchday one final month.
With out Odegaard within the centre of his group, Arteta has turned to Thomas Partey to fill the void alongside Declan Rice. Partey is a very completely different participant to Odegaard, however he has not tried to be what he is not. As a substitute, the previous Atletico Madrid man has simply performed to his strengths, forming a strong midfield axis with Rice and unselfishly doing what his group wanted. In opposition to PSG, Rice and Partey gave Arsenal the platform on which they constructed their 2-0 half-time lead.
Odegaard’s significance to Arsenal is such that he can be straight again within the group when match, however by displaying they’ll cope with out him, the Gunners have outlined their energy as a squad. — Ogden
Resolution to drop Dembélé actually backfires for PSG
The massive speaking level going into the sport from the PSG perspective was the choice by Luis Enrique to drop Ousmane Dembélé, his greatest participant this season, after a heated post-match assembly on the weekend. Coming off the again of a 3-1 win over Rennes, the choice correctly backfired, not that Luis Enrique cares — for him it is all about self-discipline, and Dembélé did not respect the foundations. One wonders if he would have taken the identical determination had PSG performed a Champions League semifinal on the Emirates relatively than the second of eight group recreation.
Anyway, the absence of the French worldwide was badly felt. He’s their important supply of creativity and inspiration. And with out him, it was positively not the identical. Désiré Doué was chosen to interchange him and whereas the France U21 worldwide attacking is a promising expertise, he was completely overwhelmed by the event on the Emirates, with the guests producing simply 0.31 xG (anticipated targets) on 10 photographs over the 90 minutes. — Laurens
Calafiori impresses once more for Arsenal
Riccardo Calafiori has solely made 4 begins in his Arsenal profession, however it’s honest to say he is gone via greater than most gamers in such a brief span of time.
His first time within the XI in opposition to Manchester Metropolis noticed him make an error resulting in a aim and an excellent strike of his personal. Then got here a rollercoaster of a recreation in opposition to Leicester City, during which he ought to have been despatched off for 2 yellow playing cards, and he adopted that with perhaps his greatest efficiency of the lot on Tuesday.
Over the 90 minutes, the Italy worldwide actually confirmed why Arsenal had been so eager to spend 50m euros to signal him this summer season. The previous Bologna defender was all over the place in opposition to PSG. First, he was impeccable defensively at left-back, in opposition to Doué, after which at right-back (regardless of being left footed) in opposition to Bradley Barcola. He additionally confirmed poise and depth entering into midfield when Arsenal had the ball, including an alternative choice for the ball provider, serving to to beat the PSG press.
Calafiori is without doubt one of the subsequent era of versatile, technically gifted central defenders who can slot in wherever wanted. Seeing him all the time in the fitting place to obtain the ball, his composure in possession, his physicality and defensive qualities, there may be clearly not a lot he can not do. At 22, the long run seems excellent for him and for Arsenal. — Laurens
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