Arsenal slid to a scary defeat for the French giant Paris Saint-Germain in the first legs of their Champions League-Match on Tuesday and Mikel Arteta pronounced after the result
Mikel Arteta claimed that Arsenal still has “a big chance to be in the final” after the Gunners shot blanks.
On a discouraging evening before the Premier League brand, PSG closed on a clean sweep of victories against English teams in this season's tournament – Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal. The men of Arteta need a miracle next Wednesday in the Parc des Princes after PSG 26 passed fit, which led to the winner of Ousmane Dembele, his eighth Champions League goal this season, in a modest Emirates.
But the Gunners boss put a brave face on an unbearable setback and insisted on it: “It's the peace and we have a big chance to be in the final.” I am disappointed about the result. We have put so much into the game. We struggled in the first 10-15 minutes to get Momentum and Dominance. But I am disappointed not to get a draw at least. “
Arsenal was close to an equalizer just after the break, but the header of Mikel Merino was abolished after a long VAR assessment. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard also went close and Arteta shrugged: “It is offside millimeters, Martinelli was one-on-one and the keeper made a big salvation, Trossard was completely one-one. Those are the margins in a semi-final.
“I don't know the percentages, but we still have a real chance to be in the final. To go to the Champions League final, we have to do something special in Paris and win the game.”
But former captain of England, Wayne Rooney, who worked as an expert at Amazon Prime, was less impressed by the performance of Arsenal – on and next to the field. He said: “PSG could have won the game with two or three. I was a bit disappointed about how Arsenal played – and the fans too.
“It was modest. It was as if they defeated Real Madrid (in the quarterfinals) and the final were to walk in. I think there is a fear for Arsenal in recent years, psychological, not to get over the line.
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“They have closed Manchester City in the competition a few times, they have run Liverpool a little close, now they have defeated Madrid and they are close to the Champions League … I think there is a fear. There is an obstacle that they have to pass.”
PSG coach Luis Enrique said: “Emotions are at that level in that kind of competitions, so it's hard to analyze. Great atmosphere, but we have shown the kind of team that we are. We tried to play our way and scored the goal to play as we play early.
Only two teams have reached the Champions League final after losing the first stage of their semi -final at home – Ajax in 1996 and Tottenham in 2019.