UCL: Havertz and Saka sink PSG
Arsenal 2 - 0 PSG
Arsenal claimed their first victory in the revamped Champions League, defeating Paris St-Germain in North London.
Mikel Arteta's men built on their initial draw with Atalanta by taking charge early, thanks to two first-half goals: Kai Havertz's well-timed header and a cleverly placed free-kick from Bukayo Saka that slipped past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Although PSG had their chances, most notably when Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves struck the woodwork either side of the break, Arsenal's dominance in the first half set the stage for their triumph.
Havertz opened the scoring after 20 minutes, beating Donnarumma to Leandro Trossard’s inviting cross and nodding it home. Saka added a second, catching the PSG keeper off guard with a long-range free-kick that found its way into the net through a crowded penalty box.
PSG, now in a period of transition without their former stars like Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and Neymar, applied more pressure in the second half as Arsenal struggled to keep hold of the ball. However, Arteta was confident enough in his team to hand a debut to Mikel Merino, a £31 million signing from Real Sociedad, on what was a satisfying evening for the Gunners.
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A closer look at what happened at the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal’s success was rooted in an impressive first 45 minutes, where their two-goal cushion allowed them to withstand PSG’s second-half surge and secure a well-earned win.
This PSG side is undergoing a significant transformation, having moved away from the era of superstar acquisitions. But Arsenal’s commanding performance in the first half was another clear indicator of their progress under Arteta.
Havertz showed real courage, getting on the end of Trossard’s cross despite the onrushing Donnarumma, while Saka's somewhat fortunate free-kick only added to Arsenal’s control. Their style of play would have surely pleased Arteta.
The second half proved more challenging as PSG responded, though Gabriel Martinelli had a golden opportunity to extend Arsenal’s lead, only to volley straight at Donnarumma. Even so, Arsenal kept Luis Enrique’s side comfortably at bay to seal the win.
Arteta will have been pleased to see Merino get some minutes, especially after the midfielder’s unfortunate shoulder injury during his first training session, caused by an accidental clash with Gabriel. However, the manager will be hoping that Jurrien Timber’s injury, which forced him off at half-time, is not serious. Timber has been in fine form this season after recovering from a knee injury that ruled him out for all of last season.
While the new Champions League format offers a bit more breathing room in the early stages, Arsenal will still be greatly satisfied with this victory against such prestigious opponents.
