Arteta Rallies Arsenal for ‘Special’ Comeback After Narrow PSG Defeat

London, Tuesday – Mikel Arteta has called on Arsenal to deliver a “special” performance in Paris next week after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final first leg left their European dream delicately poised.

Ousmane Dembele’s fourth-minute strike was enough to give the French side a slender advantage at the Emirates Stadium, but Arsenal showed resilience and carved out several chances of their own in a tense, high-stakes encounter.

Despite the early setback, Arteta remained confident of his team’s ability to turn the tie around, drawing inspiration from their previous dominant wins over PSV and Real Madrid earlier in the tournament.

“We are at half-time, and my message is exactly the same as it was after we beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of the quarter-final,” said Arteta. “We have to go to Paris and win the game, and we are more than capable of doing it.”

“If you want to win the Champions League final, you have to do something special, and we are going to have to do something special in Paris to be there.”

PSG, still chasing their first-ever Champions League title, threatened to extend their lead late in the game, with Goncalo Ramos hitting the crossbar and Bradley Barcola missing from close range. Arsenal, too, had their moments, with Gianluigi Donnarumma pulling off superb saves to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

Arteta hinted at a key tactical adjustment early in the game that helped his side stabilize after a shaky start. “We had one issue. We corrected it after 15 minutes and we turned the game around,” he explained. “There was something very specific with the way we play that we had to get right.”

He acknowledged the fine margins that define Champions League football: “We had two one-on-ones with Donnarumma and if they go in, it is a different story. But he made the saves, and that’s the difference. The margins are so small.”

PSG coach Luis Enrique praised his side’s composure in a challenging away atmosphere but echoed Arteta’s caution heading into the return leg. “With Arsenal, we cannot let our guard down. They can rewrite history in a second with a goal,” he warned.

Both teams are chasing a historic final appearance, and with the second leg set for May 7 at the Parc des Princes, all eyes will be on Paris for what promises to be an electrifying conclusion to a fiercely contested tie.