Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique issued a strong caution to his team ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal at the Parc des Princes, emphasizing that dropping their guard “for a second” could see their first-leg advantage completely erased.
While Ousmane Dembele`s early fourth-minute goal secured a crucial lead for PSG at the Emirates Stadium, the French champions might regret late missed opportunities by Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos that could have put the tie beyond doubt. PSG started strongly, particularly through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left and Vitinha in midfield, suggesting they might dominate.
However, Arsenal recovered their composure and threatened to equalize multiple times. Mikel Merino had a goal disallowed for offside, Gabriel Martinelli narrowly missed twice in the first half, and Leandro Trossard forced a good save from Gianluigi Donnarumma. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remained confident his team could reach the final, a sentiment apparently echoed by PSG boss Luis Enrique.
“Mission accomplished this evening,” stated Luis Enrique, reflecting on the first leg. He added, “Our only goal now is to win the return leg at home. We absolutely cannot afford to be complacent or relax against Arsenal. They are a team capable of completely turning things around in an instant, which would take us right back to where we started. The tie is far from decided, especially since they will play with nothing to lose.”
Securing a spot in the final would undoubtedly be simpler for PSG if Ousmane Dembele is available. The French winger has been in exceptional form this year, consistently troubling the Arsenal defence after scoring his superb opening goal, a low shot that hit David Raya`s left post before going in.
However, Dembele had to leave the field with 20 minutes remaining at the Emirates, appearing to hold his hamstring. Luis Enrique confirmed the injury, indicating an anxious wait during the week to determine the availability of his key forward.
“He will undergo tests tomorrow,” the Spanish coach confirmed. “It doesn`t seem serious, it`s quite minor, but he is likely a doubt for the return leg.”
Luis Enrique added, “We will try our best to get Ousmane back playing, but we function as a collective unit. While it`s better if Ousmane is able to play, we will remain a strong team even without him. That has been our approach since the beginning of the season.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal travels to the Parc des Princes acknowledging the result could have been worse, yet also aware they created chances that could have altered the tie`s complexion. Following a shaky start, the Gunners largely matched PSG for the remainder of the match, with their direct play causing problems for Marquinhos and the defence. With the potential return of Thomas Partey, there is still hope for a team that has historically struggled to progress in the Champions League after losing the first leg at home.
When asked if his team needed to perform significantly better in the second leg, Arteta responded, “Considering how close the margins were, I don`t necessarily think so. However, if we do play significantly better, then hopefully the outcome will be significantly different too.”
Having previously delivered a strong performance at the Santiago Bernabeu in the quarterfinals (though in a more advantageous first-leg scenario), Arsenal has demonstrated their capability to perform effectively on major European away nights. They will need to replicate this next week in Paris.
“To win the Champions League, you have to achieve something exceptional, and we are going to have to do something exceptional in Paris,” stated Arteta. “I can`t put a percentage on our chances, but I believe we have a strong possibility of reaching the final.”
