Dembélé gives PSG edge over Arsenal in Champions League semifinal
Paris Saint-Germain took a major step toward the Champions League final with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in a tense semifinal first leg on Tuesday.
Ousmane Dembélé struck in the fourth minute, finding the net off the post after a flowing move, as PSG controlled the early stages of the match. Luis Enrique’s side then defended solidly to preserve their narrow lead and return to Paris with a valuable advantage.
Arsenal, appearing in their first Champions League semifinal since 2009, struggled at the start but grew into the game. They thought they had equalized through Mikel Merino after the break, only for the goal to be ruled out. PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was also crucial, making several impressive saves to deny the hosts. 
Declan Rice’s pre-match warning to his Arsenal teammates proved prophetic as Paris Saint-Germain dominated early and secured a 1-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal at Emirates Stadium.
Rice urged his team in the pre-game huddle, “If we don’t have the ball, we die.” But within just four minutes, PSG made that warning a reality. Ousmane Dembélé scored with a composed finish after a 26-pass move, slicing through Arsenal’s defense from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s assist.
The goal capped off a blistering opening from the French side, who enjoyed 71.6% possession in the first 26 minutes and completed 165 passes to Arsenal’s 60 during that span. Their dominance left Arsenal chasing shadows and trailing early in a match charged with atmosphere and high stakes.
Although Arsenal improved significantly after the early onslaught, finishing the rest of the match with 55.4% possession, they couldn’t find a way to level the score. They did have moments: a Mikel Merino header was ruled out by VAR, and Gianluigi Donnarumma denied both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard with key saves.
Manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the tough start, saying:
“We struggled for the first 10 or 15 minutes to gain momentum. Credit to PSG—they got out of a tight situation and punished us. Sometimes you just have to recognize the quality of the opposition.”
This PSG side looks far removed from the one that lost tamely at the Emirates in October. Under Luis Enrique, they’ve evolved into a fluid and disciplined force, with young stars like Desire Doue and Kvaratskhelia stepping up alongside the reborn Dembélé.
Donnarumma, who had been criticized for a costly error in that earlier match, was one of PSG’s standout performers in the semifinal, helping secure a narrow but significant advantage heading back to Paris.
The absence of Thomas Partey, suspended after a yellow card against Real Madrid, left Arsenal vulnerable in midfield—a fact not lost on Rice, who had voiced his frustration beforehand.
Despite the setback, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya offered a note of optimism:
“From the 25th minute on, we showed we can compete with anyone. We’ve won tough away games before. Now we go to Paris to win.”
PSG, on the other hand, look closer than ever to their first Champions League title. If they protect their lead in next week’s return leg at the Parc des Princes, they will face either Barcelona or Inter Milan in the final in Munich.
