LONDON — Arsenal maintained their unbeaten begin to the season by coasting to a 2-0 Champions League victory towards 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 staff into seventh place within the league stage — one of many high eight slots that assure a spot within the Spherical of 16 later within the season.
Arsenal had been set on their technique to victory when Kai Havertz headed the opening aim from Leandro Trossard‘s twentieth minute cross, however the aim was largely all the way down to a mistake by Donnarumma, who misjudged Trossard’s supply and collided with Havertz because the Germany worldwide headed into an empty internet.
The previous Chelsea ahead has now scored 5 objectives in 9 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners this season and he was spectacular once more towards PSG. His motion and business within the last third, in addition to being in the suitable place to attain Arsenal’s first, highlights why Arteta resisted the temptation to signal a brand new centre-forward in the summertime and stored 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 durations 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 put up after 4 gamers failed to attach with the ball because it flew in 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 aspect of their try to succeed in the latter rounds, however for Arsenal no less than, they’ve their first win within the competitors this season. PSG must be positive 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 essential 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 dangerous European night time on Tuesday on the Emirates. The Italy worldwide goalkeeper was at fault on each Arsenal objectives, first by lacking utterly the cross by Trossard and letting Havertz rating. Then by letting Saka’s free kick go straight at the back of his internet.
Regardless of the occasional sharp save, just like the reflex cease to disclaim Martinelli from shut initially of the second half, it isn’t adequate 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 towards Dortmund, to call one other instance.
If Paris need to win the Champions League at some point, they may want a high keeper. They thought that they had discovered him after 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 exhibiting Arsenal’s energy, not their weak spot
Bear 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 high 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 sport 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 robust 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 staff, Arteta has turned to Thomas Partey to fill the void alongside Declan Rice. Partey is a very totally 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 staff 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 staff when match, however by exhibiting they’ll cope with out him, the Gunners have outlined their energy as a squad. — Ogden
Choice 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 choice had PSG performed a Champions League semifinal on the Emirates quite than the second of eight group sport.
Anyway, the absence of the French worldwide was badly felt. He’s their predominant 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 objectives) on 10 pictures over the 90 minutes. — Laurens
Calafiori impresses once more for Arsenal
Riccardo Calafiori has solely made 4 begins in his Arsenal profession, nevertheless it’s honest to say he is gone by way of greater than most gamers in such a brief span of time.
His first time within the XI towards Manchester Metropolis noticed him make an error resulting in a aim and a superb strike of his personal. Then got here a rollercoaster of a sport towards Leicester City, wherein he ought to have been despatched off for 2 yellow playing cards, and he adopted that with possibly 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 time. The previous Bologna defender was in every single place towards PSG. First, he was impeccable defensively at left-back, towards Doué, after which at right-back (regardless of being left footed) towards Bradley Barcola. He additionally confirmed poise and depth getting into midfield when Arsenal had the ball, including another choice for the ball provider, serving to to beat the PSG press.
Calafiori is likely one of the subsequent era of versatile, technically gifted central defenders who can slot in wherever wanted. Seeing him all the time in the suitable 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 appears excellent for him and for Arsenal. — Laurens
