Mikel Arteta fielded an unchanged starting eleven for Arsenal’s crucial Champions League encounter against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), maintaining the lineup that secured a dramatic last-minute victory over Leicester City.
Both Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber, who passed late fitness tests, were fit enough to start in the full-back positions, giving the Gunners a significant defensive boost.
Additionally, Mikel Merino, recently recovered from a fractured shoulder, made his first appearance on the bench since joining Arsenal from Real Sociedad during the summer transfer window.
Arsenal began the match with great intensity, pressing PSG high up the pitch and controlling the tempo from the outset.
Their first clear opportunity came when Bukayo Saka curled a shot just over the crossbar following a well-worked combination between Gabriel Martinelli and Calafiori down the left flank.
However, PSG gradually settled into the game, with Vitinha seeing more of the ball and slowing Arsenal’s early momentum.
Despite PSG’s growing control, Arsenal continued to push forward.
Saka nearly set up Kai Havertz with a chance on the overlap, but Havertz’s low cross into the box failed to find a teammate.
The breakthrough came 20 minutes into the game. Leandro Trossard, after skillfully beating PSG’s Desire Doue, delivered a perfect cross into the penalty area.
Havertz, rising high above Gianluigi Donnarumma, met the ball with a brave header to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead.
The partnership between Trossard and Havertz was particularly effective, as their fluid movement between the midfield and attacking lines caused PSG significant problems.
It wasn’t until the half-hour mark that PSG created their first notable chance, with Nuno Mendes hitting the post with a fierce strike.
Shortly after, Achraf Hakimi led a dangerous counter-attack, sprinting past Calafiori and forcing David Raya to make a smart save from a tight angle.
Despite these moments of pressure, Arsenal remained largely in control and soon doubled their advantage.
A dangerous cross from Saka caused confusion in PSG’s defense, slipping past Donnarumma and into the net, making it 2-0 in favor of the Gunners.
This goal resulted from a clever set-piece routine, with Arsenal posing a consistent threat from dead-ball situations throughout the first half.
Trossard nearly extended Arsenal’s lead before halftime following another brilliant move from Saka, but the Belgian couldn’t make clean contact with the captain’s low cross from close range.
Although PSG showed flashes of technical quality, they struggled to cope with Arsenal’s high pressing and physical dominance, leaving them unable to gain a foothold in the match.
At halftime, Arteta made a change, bringing on Jakub Kiwior to replace Jurrien Timber, shifting Calafiori to the right-back position.
The switch appeared to be precautionary, as Timber had performed well in the first half.
Early in the second half, Arsenal nearly scored a stunning team goal following a slick one-touch passing sequence involving Saka, Trossard, and Havertz, which set up Martinelli for a volley. However, Donnarumma was well-positioned to save.
With 60 minutes played, Mikel Merino made his debut for Arsenal, coming on for Thomas Partey, likely to manage Partey’s fitness considering his injury history.
In response, PSG introduced Fabian Ruiz and Randal Kolo Muani and began to see more of the ball.
Joao Neves came close to pulling a goal back for PSG, flicking a header onto the crossbar from a corner, while Lee Kang-in tested Raya with a swerving long-range effort.
Arsenal came close to a third goal, but Donnarumma made another impressive save.
PSG grew frustrated late on when they appealed for a penalty after the ball struck Calafiori’s arm, but after a brief VAR check, the referee dismissed the claim.
As the second half wore on, Arsenal’s intensity naturally decreased, and PSG created more chances but failed to take advantage of them.
Despite this, Arsenal held firm and secured a well-deserved victory, continuing their strong form ahead of the international break.
