Ousmane Dembélé who’s making a strong case for the Ballon d’Or scored the only goal in the first leg at the Emirates, leaving Arsenal needing to pull off something only two teams have ever done: reach the final after losing the first leg at home.
In some ways, that first leg mirrored Arsenal’s earlier clash with Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. Once again, the Gunners dominated the build-up but failed to deliver when it mattered most.
PSG, unfazed by the hype, the tifo, or the pre-match theatrics, struck just four minutes in. Dembélé’s goal not only silenced North London, it also saw him match Kylian Mbappé’s record for most Champions League goal involvements in a single season for PSG.
Arsenal thought they had a lifeline when Mikel Merino’s strike hit the net, but it was ruled out, and PSG returned home with a narrow yet potentially decisive 1–0 lead. That result puts them firmly in control heading into the second leg, aiming to book a spot in the final against either Barcelona or Inter Milan in Munich.
History is on PSG’s side: they've only ever been knocked out of Europe once after winning the first leg away against Manchester United in 2019. Still, they’ve hit a patch of poor form lately, winning just two of their last six games. Their weekend loss to Strasbourg, with a second-string lineup, reflected that but the focus has clearly been on this semi-final.
Arsenal, meanwhile, can’t use rotation as an excuse for their own weekend stumble. Most of Mikel Arteta’s regulars were on the pitch against Bournemouth, but it wasn’t enough.
Declan Rice gave them a first-half lead, only for the Gunners to collapse again something they’ve done 10 times this season in the league after going ahead, a new and troubling club record. Bournemouth’s comeback, capped by Evanilson’s controversial winner (possibly off the elbow), left Arsenal facing more questions than answers.
The bigger issue? Arsenal’s attack continues to misfire at crucial moments, and their defensive lapses are becoming a theme. As it stands, they’re not just in danger of Champions League elimination they’re also at risk of missing out on a top-five finish in the Premier League.
Climbing out of this hole won’t be easy. Only Ajax in 1996 and Tottenham in 2019 have come back to reach the final after losing a semi-final first leg at home—and Spurs fans won’t be keen on seeing Arsenal pull off the same feat.
Still, there’s hope. Arsenal are unbeaten in their last seven away games in all competitions and have won four straight on the road in Europe, scoring at least twice in each. A repeat of their 2-1 win at the Bernabéu would at least force extra time.
But they’ll need to be sharp because PSG have racked up 14 goals in their last three Champions League home matches. It’s no wonder Arsenal fans are bracing themselves for more European disappointment.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
The only real downside for PSG in the first leg was Ousmane Dembélé picking up a hamstring strain shortly after scoring the winner. The club says he's recovering well, but whether he’ll be fit in time for the second leg remains uncertain.As a result, Gonçalo Ramos is expected to lead the line against Arsenal. South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in is also a doubt after picking up a knock in the loss to Strasbourg, though he wasn’t likely to start anyway.
Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz are set to return to the midfield alongside João Neves, who was the only player from the first leg to also start at the weekend. Out wide, PSG should be back to full strength with Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ready to bring their attacking spark.
For Arsenal, the absence of Thomas Partey in the first leg was clearly felt. He missed the match due to a suspension from a needless yellow card picked up in Madrid—but he’s back and expected to reclaim his spot as the anchor in midfield.
He’ll likely line up alongside Declan Rice and captain Martin Ødegaard, who took a slight knock over the weekend but should be fit for Wednesday’s clash. A late fitness check will be needed for Jurrien Timber, who sat out the Bournemouth game.
Meanwhile, the Gunners remain without several key players: Jorginho (lung issue), Gabriel Jesus (knee), Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhães (both with hamstring injuries), and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are all sidelined. Riccardo Calafiori is also still out with a knee problem that’s taking longer than expected to heal.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Ramos, Kvaratskhelia
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
EXPERT PREDICTION
PSG 2-1 Arsenal
Thomas Partey’s return is a big boost, and Ousmane Dembélé’s potential absence could tilt things slightly in Arsenal’s favor. But if the Gunners push forward in search of goals, PSG’s electric wide players will be ready to pounce on any space left behind and that could bring them one step closer to the Champions League trophy they’ve been chasing for years.
