Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has challenged his team to deliver a “special” performance in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
Ousmane Dembélé’s fourth-minute strike gave the French side a slender advantage in a tense first-leg encounter, setting the stage for a dramatic return leg in Paris on May 7.
Despite early struggles, Arsenal had opportunities to equalize, with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard both denied by outstanding saves from PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Meanwhile, PSG missed chances to extend their lead, as Gonçalo Ramos hit the crossbar and Bradley Barcola failed to convert from close range.
Having cruised through earlier rounds with convincing first-leg victories over PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid, the Gunners now face a far tougher path to what would be their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
“We’re only at half-time,” said Arteta. “We’ve shown before that we can rise to big occasions, and we’ll need to do something special in Paris. If you want to win this competition, that’s what it takes. We still have every chance to reach the final.”
Arteta revealed that a tactical adjustment midway through the first half helped his side gain a foothold after PSG’s fast start. The Ligue 1 champions had already eliminated Liverpool and Aston Villa and defeated Manchester City in the group stage.
“There was a detail in our setup we needed to fix after about 15 minutes,” Arteta explained. “Once we did that, we regained control. We had our moments — two big chances — but the margins at this level are razor-thin.”
PSG, still seeking their first Champions League title, now hold a valuable lead, though head coach Luis Enrique remained cautious.
“We started brilliantly, and the early goal gave us confidence,” he said. “But Arsenal had their moments too. The game could have gone either way.”
A former mentor to Arteta, Enrique emphasized the danger of underestimating Arsenal ahead of the second leg.
“Tonight was a job well done, but we haven’t achieved anything yet,” he said. “Arsenal are capable of turning things around quickly. We must stay focused and look to win at home.”
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