CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 

ARSENAL 0

PSG 1 (Dembele 4)

ARSENAL slumped to another Champions League semi final defeat in a crushingly frustrating clash with PSG.

The visitors were undoubtedly the better side and could arguably have left north London with the tie sealed after spurning several gilt edged chances.

But the Gunners are still in the mix and have a slim chance of making it to their first European Cup final since 2006.

After the match, Arteta said: “To be in the Champions League final you have to do something special, we will have to do that.”

PSG ran Arsenal ragged in the first half and should really have been at least two or three up after half an hour.

The Gunners looked out of sorts from the off, and were blocked from playing their normal game out from the back.

It was a nervy atmosphere that was not helped by a minute’s silence for the Pope just as the stadium was boiling before kick off.

It quickly turned angry after the Dembele’s brutal opening goal and a series of 50/50 calls against the men in red.

But Arsenal survived the onslaught and rallied to create some great chances of their own.

It just had that feel to it.

Rebounds were not falling their way and frustration started building as the passing got scrappy.

There were at least three Arsenal chances that could have ended up in the back of the net.

Martinelli was sent through in the pick of the bunch after great work from Lewis-Skelly, arguably Arsenal’s best player.

But unlike in Madrid he could not bend it round the towering Donnarumma. Again, the rebound could have fallen to an Arsenal player but did not.

Martinelli again could only get a toe to a cross from Saka after some incredible tight control saw him ghost past three players.

There were encouraging signs going into the second half – but PSG looked capable of killing the tie.

It was a bad tempered affair with a string of early yellow cars and a nit picking ref determined to make his mark.

Mikel  Merino nodded in straight after the restart, but it was ruled out after a lengthy VAR for a clear offside.

Leandro Trossard had a great chance but his shot was brilliantly saved by Donnarumma – who looked unbeatable.

There was a huge William Saliba tackle to prevent a certain second goal – before PSG missed a series of incredible chances to kill the tie.

First Barcola dragged wide on a great angle. And then Ramos smashed the bar, not realising how much time he had to set himself.

Hakimi was very lucky not to get sent off after chopping down Martinelli, who blazed over Arsenal’s last chance before full time.

Saka huffed and puffed, creating several half chances that were gobbled up by the PSG back line.

It felt like a breakthrough equaliser could have led to a win.

There was no magical end, the atmosphere ended flat, and Arsenal slumped to defeat.

The difference between the sides was arguably the bench – with Arsenal having no realistic forwards to bring on to replace the exhausted starters.

Ethan Nwaneri was given just a couple of minutes at the end, but could not break through the well disciplined defence.

But Arsenal, somehow, are still in the tie and PSG are not streets ahead of them. It’s not over yet.

Arsenal: Raya, Timber (White, 83), Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard (Nwaneri 89), Merino, Martinelli, Trossard, Saka
Subs not used: Neto, Setford, Tierney, Zinchenko, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji, Henry-Francis, Kabia,

PSG: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinos, Kvartskheilia, Doue (Ramos 84), Vitinha, Dembele (Barcola 74), Mendes, Pacho, Neves (Zaire Emery 89)
Subs not used: Safanov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Lee, Hernandez, Mayulu, Beraldo, Mbaye