Arsenal lost 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain thanks to a goal from Ousmane Dembele, but the Gunners remain convinced that they can destroy the shortage in the second stage of their semi-final of the Champions League
William Saliba admitted that Arsenal was struggling early because they were eaten 'a little' by Paris Saint-Germain in the first stage of their semi-final collision of the Champions League, but he remains positive about the opportunities of the Gunners in the second stage.
Ousmane Dembele scored the only goal of the game after just four minutes, with his efforts bounced out of the post. Arsenal thought they had scored an equalizer in the second half, but Mikel Merino turned out to be offside before he led Declan's free kick past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“We struggled a lot in the first 20 minutes,” Saliba told the French Omroep Canal+, according to Getting French football news. “They ate us a bit. We have run a lot, haunted the ball. We were better at the end of the first half.
“It's not over yet. We hope to win there. We have to take it positive, we can't give up. It is the Champions League. A lot can happen. We have to show our character.”
And Arsenal -Baas Mikel Arteta is convinced that his party can turn things around in the Parc des Princes next week and it says that they are “more than able” to make the final. “We are during the break,” said Arteta in his press conference after the game.
“The peace and my message is exactly the same and follows us and defeat Real Madrid at home 3-0-that we have to go to Paris and win the game. We are more than able to do it because I saw two very good teams with margins that are so small.
“They had efficiency for the goal and their keeper also made the difference to see the result we have seen tonight. Certainly, when you score a goal and allow one, you have to do that. But we have also done many things well.
“We had a spell in the first half and the game had phases. The first 15-20 minutes, especially that they scored so early in a great combination, playing when the margins are so small, the finish is incredible.
“And then we mainly had one problem that we corrected after 15-20 minutes and we maintained that for the rest of the game, of which I think it turned around. If you want to win the Champions League final, you have to do something special and we have to do something special in Paris to be there.”
In the meantime, PSG Baas Luis Enrique also believes that the draw is still in the air and claims that Arsenal will have nothing to lose “in the second stage. “We have achieved our first goal with the result of tonight, which could have had a draw or a 2-0 win his but no one can change the result now,” he said.
“The goal is now to win the next game, and we cannot take any risks, because with one goal the draw could suddenly be the same. We lost at home and then we went to Anfield and gave the victory – now we are ahead, but Arsenal could score himself in Paris.
“They have nothing to lose, they are in the back of the draw. It will be a fascinating game for football fans, but a bit more difficult for the managers.”
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