PSG proved to be too soft and learned a little lesson. Luis Enrique’s players lost on the Arsenal pitch on Tuesday during the second day of the Champions League (2-0). First failing like his teammates, Gianluigi Donnarumma broke down against Kai Havertz (20th) then on a free kick from Bukayo Saka (35th). The goalkeeper recovered in the second half but the visitors failed to reduce the score. They suffered a first setback this season.
Ousmane Dembélé being banned for this trip to the Emirates Stadium, the Parisian coach aligned Désiré Doué on the right wing and Kang-In Lee up front. The other little surprise in his starting XI was seeing Donnarumma keep the cage as he returned from injury. The Italian goalkeeper was quickly called upon and was able to make an important exit in front of Gabriel Martinelli (3rd). He then saw Saka place a curling shot just wide of the target (9th). Faced with the excellent organization of the Gunners, Paris was blocked in its own half and without a solution.
Donnarumma guilty
The Parisians also displayed some defensive generosity and Vitinha let Leandro Trossard center on the left while Havertz passed between Pacho and Nuno Mendes and was thus able to place his header in the back of Donnarumma’s net, which came out too late this time (1- 0.20th). Arsenal then retreated and Paris managed to respond timidly but Nuno Mendes only touched Raya’s post with his axial shot (28th) and Achraf Hakimi came up against the London goalkeeper at a tight angle (31st).
The Gunners waited for their moment and hit on their specialty: set pieces, as feared. Saka sent his eccentric free kick in front of Donnarumma’s cage which his teammates disrupted by diving from the far post. The Parisian goalkeeper was surprised and the ball ended up in his net (2-0, 35th). Mikel Arteta will still be able to thank his French assistant Nicolas Jover who effectively prepares these phases of play. Luis Enrique’s staff had obviously not anticipated this situation.
Paris without success
The Parisian coach was, at least, able to refocus his troops during the break and his players appeared more conquering in the second half. They combined with more speed and sharpness. However, Arsenal also remained dangerous in rapid attack and Donnarumma had to repel a good volley from Martinelli (52nd) and captured a header from the restless Havertz (58th). Gifted and Lee proving powerless, PSG was slow to really give David Raya work.
Shortly after the entries of Fabian Ruiz and Randal Kolo Muani in place of the former Rennais and Vitinha (64th), Joao Neves still found the London crossbar from a corner (66th). Lee, for his part, nicely warmed the gloves of the Arsenal goalkeeper (68th). After another parade from Donnarumma in front of Martinelli (75th), Paris pushed but the referee did not sanction either Riccardo Cafafiori’s hand in his area in front of the discreet Bradley Barcola (78th), nor Declan Rice’s foul on Kolo Muani in front of the zone of truth (87th). After a draw at Atalanta, Arsenal achieved their first success in the competition while PSG showed their first limits.
){kind=link}