Arsenal’s hopes of progressing to the UEFA Champions League final remain alive, despite a narrow 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their semi-final clash at the Emirates Stadium. Ousmane Dembele’s early strike gave the French side the edge, but Mikel Arteta’s squad showed enough to suggest they could turn the tie around in the return fixture.
The Gunners had moments of promise as both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli tested Gianluigi Donnarumma with sharp attempts, though PSG equally threatened to extend their lead through late chances from Goncalo Ramos and Bradley Barcola. However, Arsenal will take heart from the fact that the deficit is just a single goal—and they have received two major pieces of news that could swing the second leg in their favour.
Midfielder Thomas Partey, who was suspended for the first leg, will return for the decisive clash at the Parc des Princes. His comeback could have a massive impact on Arsenal’s midfield balance, allowing Declan Rice to push further forward and giving Mikel Arteta more tactical flexibility. Partey’s inclusion is seen as a potential game-changer.
Meanwhile, PSG may be without their goal scorer. Dembele was substituted due to a muscle issue, and French medical expert Serge Dubeau shared an update with L’Equipe: “A strain is a minor muscle injury that affects the muscle’s structure. The damage isn’t very significant. We’re talking about grade one. In terms of downtime… it requires a rest period of 10 to 15 days.” With the second leg just days away, his participation looks unlikely.
Should Arsenal overcome PSG, they’ll face either Barcelona or Inter Milan in the final. That tie also delivered fireworks, with a 3-3 thriller that exposed glaring weaknesses on both sides. Barcelona’s high defensive line and vulnerability from corners could be exploitable, while Inter’s wing-backs struggled to handle direct attacks—something Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka could thrive on.
Before dreaming of the final, Arsenal must first accomplish a tough task in Paris. History shows it can be done—Liverpool achieved it—but only with tactical discipline and late-game precision. If Arteta’s men can channel that same grit, they might just rewrite the script.
