Paris Saint-Germain secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal clash against Arsenal, thanks to their new tactical approach and some key moments of individual brilliance.
Key performances from PSG players proved decisive. Ousmane Dembele scored his 32nd goal of the season, continuing his best-ever form. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a vital January signing, provided the assist, highlighting his impact. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was also instrumental, making five critical saves to keep a clean sheet and give the French champions an important lead before the return leg in Paris.
For Arsenal, it wasn`t a terrible performance, with Declan Rice delivering another strong display. However, it wasn`t the Gunners` finest match overall. They finish the first leg with reasons for both optimism and the need for significant improvement for the second leg.
Here are the player ratings from Tuesday`s match:
Arsenal Player Ratings
| Name | Minutes | How did they do? | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Raya (GK) | 90 | Made three saves facing a strong PSG attack, but could have done better on the only goal of the match. | 7.5 |
| Jurien Timber (DEF) | 83 | Involved in the defensive lapse for Dembele`s goal, a costly error despite an otherwise decent performance. | 7 |
| William Saliba (DEF) | 90 | A solid presence in defense on a day when Arsenal defended reasonably well, but containing this tactical PSG side is a challenge. A decent, though not exceptional, outing. | 7.5 |
| Jakub Kiwior (DEF) | 90 | Similar to Saliba, he did his best against a complex PSG attack, but it wasn`t his most dominant performance. | 7 |
| Myles Lewis-Skelley (DEF) | 90 | Showed signs of life as Arsenal pushed for an equalizer, making some positive attacking runs, particularly in the second half. | 7.5 |
| Martin Odegaard (MID) | 89 | A mixed performance. Contributed defensively but offered little creativity or threat in the final third, generating only one chance. | 6.5 |
| Declan Rice (MID) | 90 | Arguably Arsenal`s best player. Delivered a strong defensive shift and helped initiate attacks, especially late on. His performance mirrored Arsenal`s effort – competitive but ultimately unable to fully disrupt PSG. | 8 |
| Mikel Merino (MID) | 90 | May have been involved in creating what looked like an equalizer, but his attacking output was otherwise underwhelming, reflecting some of Arsenal`s offensive struggles. | 6.5 |
| Bukayo Saka (FWD) | 90 | Had moments in attack, particularly when Arsenal gained confidence. However, with only one shot taken, there is definite room for him to be more influential. | 6.5 |
| Leandro Trossard (FWD) | 90 | Took three shots, two of which were on target, and contributed significantly to Arsenal`s search for a goal, generating 0.45 expected goals. Played a notable role in their attacking efforts. | 7.5 |
| Gabriel Martinelli (FWD) | 90 | Also registered three shots and an impressive 1.08 expected goals. However, he didn`t capitalize on his opportunities and could be considered wasteful, which could prove costly for Arsenal. | 6.5 |
| Substitutes | Replaced | How did they do? | Rating |
| Ben White (DEF) | 7 | Provided some defensive cover in a brief appearance, but didn`t have enough time to significantly impact the game. | N/A |
| Ethan Nwaneri (MID) | 1 | Like White, did not play sufficient minutes to warrant a rating. | N/A |
| Manager | Subs used | How did the manager do? | Rating |
| Mikel Arteta | 2 | Found a way to cope with PSG`s unique press, but this was only after conceding. His limited substitutions highlighted a potential lack of attacking depth, suggesting Arsenal might not have enough firepower to overturn the deficit. | 7 |
Paris Saint-Germain Player Ratings
| Name | Minutes | How did they do? | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK) | 90 | His five crucial saves were vital in keeping Arsenal out and preserving PSG`s lead for the return leg in Paris. An outstanding performance to secure the clean sheet. | 8.5 |
| Achraf Hakimi (DEF) | 90 | A standout player in Luis Enrique`s revamped system. Frequently joined the attack, causing problems for Arsenal`s defense, while also fulfilling defensive duties. | 7.5 |
| Marquinhos (DEF) | 90 | Solid and commanding in defense, effectively keeping Arsenal at bay. Won most of his duels and made five important clearances. A reliable presence. | 7.5 |
| Willian Pacho (DEF) | 90 | Had a decent night, but was noticeably less influential than Marquinhos. Did not win any duels, indicating a weaker defensive presence compared to his partner. | 7 |
| Nuno Mendes (DEF) | 90 | Formed a strong partnership with Hakimi on the opposite flank. Excelled in both defensive and offensive aspects, standing out as a key player in PSG`s new tactical setup. | 8 |
| Joao Neves (MID) | 89 | Crucial to Enrique`s system, particularly for his strong defensive performance in midfield, which effectively limited Arsenal`s attacking options through the center. | 8 |
| Vitinha (MID) | 90 | Held his own in a game dominated by the midfield battle. A steady, though relatively quiet, performance compared to some of his other displays this season. | 7.5 |
| Fabian Ruiz (MID) | 90 | Like Vitinha, ensured PSG`s midfield functioned smoothly. A solid, understated performance that contributed to controlling the game`s tempo. | 7.5 |
| Desire Doue (FWD) | 76 | The 19-year-old justified his start, showing versatility in a forward line with many options. Took one shot which forced a crucial save from Raya. | 7 |
| Ousmane Dembele (FWD) | 70 | Made his limited shots count by scoring the winning goal with a trademark finish. This goal, part of PSG`s new attacking pattern, marked his 32nd of the season, making this his best career campaign. | 7.5 |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (FWD) | 90 | Once again a standout performer for PSG, providing the assist for the goal. His dynamic play troubled Arsenal`s defense and was key to making Enrique`s tactical system effective, helping PSG secure their first-leg advantage. | 8.5 |
| Substitutes | Replaced | How did they do? | Rating |
| Bradley Barcola (FWD) | 20 | Came on to help PSG find a second goal. Had two shots in 20 minutes but should have done better with one of his chances. | 7 |
| Goncalo Ramos (FWD) | 14 | Similar to Barcola, was brought on to boost the attack but wasn`t able to make a significant impact in his short time on the pitch. | 7 |
| Warren Zaïre-Emery (MID) | 1 | Did not play enough minutes to receive a rating. | N/A |
| Manager | Subs used | How did the manager do? | Rating |
| Luis Enrique | 3 | Led PSG to a vital away win, showcasing a tactical system that makes them a formidable European side. However, the team played perhaps too conservatively in the second half after scoring, which left them open to Arsenal`s pressure at times. | 7.5 |
