Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the UEFA Champions League was a masterclass in discipline and clinical finishing. The Gunners secured their first win of the group stage at the Emirates Stadium. The match saw the Gunners deliver a composed performance against a youthful PSG side.
Kai Havertz opened the scoring for Arsenal in the 20th minute, nodding home a perfectly weighted cross from Leandro Trossard. The German forward’s movement between defenders and his timing proved too much for PSG’s backline. Bukayo Saka added a second goal in the 35th minute from a free-kick that evaded everyone, including goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, sneaking into the net to double the lead.
Throughout the match, Arsenal controlled the tempo and threatened to extend their lead on multiple occasions. Gabriel Martinelli, in particular, came close several times, but PSG’s Donnarumma was able to keep the scoreline respectable with some crucial saves. Despite PSG hitting the woodwork twice, Arsenal never looked truly threatened, as their defence, led by William Saliba and Gabriel, kept the French champions at bay.
In terms of player performance, Havertz and Saka were the standout stars. Havertz’s aerial dominance and poise on the ball earned him the Man of the Match award, while Saka’s relentless energy and clever set-pieces constantly troubled PSG. Leandro Trossard also played a pivotal role, with his assist for Havertz’s goal showcasing his creativity and technical prowess.
PSG, for their part, struggled to find any rhythm in attack. Warren Zaïre-Emery and Vitinha were active in midfield but failed to break down Arsenal’s well-organized defensive lines. João Neves was the standout performer for PSG, striking the bar in the second half, but it was too little, too late.
Player Ratings:
Arsenal:
David Raya – 7: Solid in goal, rarely tested, but composed throughout.
Jurrien Timber – 7: Reliable defensively and played his part in keeping PSG at bay.
William Saliba – 7: Commanding presence in defence, snuffed out PSG’s few attacks.
Gabriel Magalhães – 7: Dominant aerially, strong in tackles.
Riccardo Calafiori – 7: Quiet but effective, supported well down the left flank.
Thomas Partey – 7: Controlled the midfield, distributing the ball with precision.
Declan Rice – 7: Excellent shielding of the defence and broke up PSG’s play effortlessly.
Leandro Trossard – 7: Dangerous on the left and provided a perfect assist for the first goal.
Bukayo Saka – 8: Scored Arsenal’s second, lively throughout.
Kai Havertz – 8: Scored the opener, involved in much of Arsenal’s build-up play.
Gabriel Martinelli – 7: Tireless running, came close to scoring but was denied by Donnarumma.
PSG:
Gianluigi Donnarumma – 5: Conceded two but made several key saves to keep PSG in the game.
Nuno Mendes – 6: Struggled defensively but contributed to PSG’s limited attacking forays.
Willian Pacho – 6: Had a tough time dealing with Arsenal’s forwards.
Marquinhos – 6: The captain led by example but was outmanoeuvred for Havertz’s goal.
Achraf Hakimi – 6: Struggled to influence the game offensively.
Warren Zaïre-Emery – 6: Worked hard but was outclassed by Arsenal’s midfield.
Vitinha – 6: Unable to unlock Arsenal’s defence, lacked creativity.
João Neves – 7: PSG’s brightest spark, unfortunate to hit the bar.
Bradley Barcola – 6: Ineffective in attack, offered little penetration.
Lee Kang-In – 6: Struggled to make an impact.
Desire Doue – 5: Anonymous for most of the game
This win puts Arsenal in a strong position as they head into their next Champions League fixture, with confidence running high.
