In the First Leg of the UEFA Champions League Semifinal, PSG defeats Arsenal.

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By Meshach Osaro 

Ousmane Dembele gave Paris Saint-Germain the lead in their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal on Tuesday, winning the first leg 1-0. Dembele scored in the first few minutes at the Emirates Stadium, and Luis Enrique's team maintained the lead with a calm performance that held Arsenal at bay. PSG will enter the second leg at the Parc des Princes on May 7 as favorites to advance to the final against Barcelona or Inter Milan as they attempt to win the tournament for the first time, but considering their history of spectacular European collapses, the French champions shouldn't get ahead.

It was a devastating blow to Arsenal's hopes of winning their first Champions League title as they suffered their first loss in 18 home European games.  The semi-final run of Arsenal was described as a "beautiful story" by Mikel Arteta.  Although reading the final chapter may be frustrating, they are still alive and well.  After losing to Manchester United in 2009, the Gunners advanced to their first Champions League semi-final after defeating defending champion Real Madrid 5-1 overall.  Despite an exuberant atmosphere as kickoff drew near, they were unable to duplicate the swaggering performance that soundly defeated Madrid 3-0 in the first leg.


It was a devastating blow to Arsenal's hopes of winning their first Champions League title as they suffered their first loss in 18 home European games.  The semi-final run of Arsenal was described as a "beautiful story" by Mikel Arteta.  Although reading the final chapter may be frustrating, they are still alive and well.  After losing to Manchester United in 2009, the Gunners advanced to their first Champions League semi-final after defeating defending champion Real Madrid 5-1 overall.  Despite an exuberant atmosphere as kickoff drew near, they were unable to duplicate the swaggering performance that soundly defeated Madrid 3-0 in the first leg.


Declan Rice yelled, "If we don't have the ball we die," as the Arsenal players assembled in the tunnel for a pregame huddle, urging them to give it their all.  Additionally stirring was a video message from Arteta that was displayed on the Emirates screens, in which the Spaniard exhorted supporters to raise the roof.  However, after rallying from a two-goal deficit to defeat Manchester City in the league phase, PSG had previously eliminated Premier League champions Liverpool in the round of sixteen and Aston Villa in the quarterfinals.  The only English team they had not defeated was Arsenal, who they lost 2-0 to in October in north London.

But for disciplinary reasons, PSG did not have the powerful Dembele on that particular occasion, and Luis Enrique maintained that his team was "more complete" seven months later.  Dembele demonstrated his argument in just four minutes by initiating and completing a merciless raid.  Dembele took possession in the center circle, passed the ball to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and drove intently at Jurrien Timber.  Dembele continued to move into the Arsenal area, and he was set up for a clinical finish that went in off the far post by Kvaratskhelia's brilliantly weighted cross.  Marquinhos jumped up to meet Achraf Hakimi's cross with a header that was just too close to Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya as PSG went for the kill after seizing the initiative.

When Timber seemed to stop the forward's charge into the area by placing an arm over his chest, Kvaratskhelia's penalty appeal was dismissed.  Unfazed, Kvaratskhelia attacked Timber once more, prompting Raya to make a save.  Dembele was proving to be just as difficult for Arsenal to stop; at full stretch, Raya stopped a low shot from Desire Doue after his deft run and pass.  Gianluigi Donnarumma made a fantastic stop on Gabriel Martinelli's strike right before halftime, giving Arsenal the opportunity to tie the score despite being outgunned.  When Mikel Merino headed home from Rice's free kick two minutes into the second half, Arsenal believed they had tied the score. However, their joy was short-lived as VAR ruled the goal against the Spain midfielder offside.

When Rice's ball led Leandro Trossard rushing into the PSG area for a shot that Donnarumma superbly turned away, Arteta's team had the momentum and he was just inches away from equalizing.  Sensing that the power was shifting, PSG tried to play more slowly in order to lessen the intensity of the match.  With just Raya to beat, Bradley Barcola pulled his shot wide of the far post, almost perfecting the trick as he strolled through.  It was a terrible miss, and Luis Enrique was grabbing his head in shock.  When Goncalo Ramos struck a close-range shot against the bar a few moments later, the PSG coach was still in the same startled position.

Meshach Osaro

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