Paris Saint-Germain took a big step towards reaching the Champions League final as Ousmane Dembele's early goal sealed a 1-0 win at Arsenal in a tense first leg of the semi-final on Tuesday.
Dembele fired home off the post in the fourth minute as PSG dominated the opening stages and Luis Enrique's side held firm to take a precious advantage back to the French capital. Arsenal, playing in the semi-final for the first time since 2009, improved after a lacklustre start and had a Mikel Merino goal ruled out after the break while PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made several fine saves.
PSG should have given themselves a bigger cushion for the second leg but Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos both squandered gilt-edged chances late on. The second leg takes place in Paris next Wednesday with the winners facing either Inter Milan or Barcelona in Munich. Read back the game below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Simon Collings and Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal vs PSG latest news
- NO GOAL! Merino equaliser ruled out by VAR
- GOAL! Dembele silences the Emirates
Rooney questions quiet Arsenal fans
22:27 , Alex YoungWayne Rooney has questioned the Arsenal fans' enthusiasm during Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The Gunners went down 1-0 to Ousmane Dembele's fourth-minute strike in a game littered with chances for both teams. Mikel Merino saw an equaliser ruled out by VAR just minutes into the second half, while Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli were denied by fine saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
PSG could, and perhaps should, be heading back to Paris with a bigger advantage after Goncalo Ramos and Bradley Barcola missed good opportunities late on.
Time and again Arsenal players and Mikel Arteta were seen motioning to the crowd to get louder as the Gunners pushed for an equalier, and Rooney admits he was surprised at the level of noise from the home fans.
Rooney said on Amazon Prime: "PSG were by far the better team, tactically they were excellent. Organised and patient, and could have won the game by two or three. I think they got it spot on.
"For Arsenal, I was a bit disappointed with how they played, disappointed with the fans as well. The fans were excellent against Real Madrid and pushed the team, but tonight they were subdued.
"It was almost like an anti-climax. They beat Real Madrid and thought they are going to walk into the final. The fans have to be there the entire time. The players have to show up, of course, but I think on both sides, it wasn't a good enough."
Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates Stadium
21:57 , Alex YoungArsenal are still in the tie and can feel aggrieved they did not score after a marginal offside call and two outstanding saves from Donnarumma.
But PSG looked like the real deal tonight and are now firm favourites to reach the final next week.
Full-time!
21:56 , Alex Young96min: There’s the whistle as Nicolas Jover is escorted away from the touchline.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:54 , Alex Young95min: Final corner for Arsenal but White fouls Donnarumma for some reason so that should be that.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:52 , Alex Young93min: Martinelli skies a shot from inside the area. He was off balance.
Last chance?
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:49 , Alex Young90min: Nwaneri is on for Odegaard. There will be five added minutes.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:47 , Alex Young88min: Arsenal win a free kick on the left-hand side of the area. Rice fancies it, drills in a shot from a tight angle but PSG hack it clear.
OFF THE BAR!
21:44 , Alex Young85min: Now Ramos is denied!
He has almost too much time and then toe-punts a shot against the bar with just Raya to beat!
Arsenal let off twice in as many minutes.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:43 , Alex Young84min: Oh, Barcola! It’s a beautiful move from PSG as Ramos flicks the youngster into the area, he has all the time in the world to find his spot but drags a shot wide of the far post.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:4183min: White is on for Timber.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:40 , Alex Young81min: White being readied.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:38 , Alex Young80min: Kvaratskhelia cuts inside and flashes a shot over from inside the area. PSG creating more at the moment.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:37 , Alex Young78min: What a waste from PSG!
It’s three on three as Ramos slips Barcola into the area on the right, he pauses, waits and waits and then passes back inside for Neves to send miles over the bar.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:36 , Alex Young77min: Saka forces Donnarumma into another low save, but Trossard is offside in the build-up.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:34 , Alex Young76min: Ramos is on for Doue. Still no Arsenal change.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:33 , Alex Young74min: Kvaratskhelia tries to beat Raya from 50 yards, sails out.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:32 , Alex Young73min: A really poor cross in from Odegaard, who has struggled tonight. Arsenal trying to build something but the ball is just floated into Donnarumma’s arms.
Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates Stadium
21:30 , Alex YoungDembele departs as the potential match-winner after an outstanding opening goal but his work in the build-up tonight was just as impressive.
He was so impressive at dropping deep and linking play or running at Arsenal, including in the build-up to the goal.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:30 , Alex Young72min: Timber has been slightly hobbling, his time may soon be up.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:29 , Alex Young71min: Dembele is coming off, though. That was no time-wasting. Barcola is on.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:28 , Alex Young70min: Dembele is down, forcing the referee to blow up and sending Arteta is a furious fit on the sidelines.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
21:27 , Alex YoungOne of the issues for Arsenal here is that there is little for Arteta to turn to on the bench. Nwaneri maybe? Tierney? Sterling?
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:27 , Alex Young68min: Saka tries to make something work on the edge of the area, spinning to create space, but ends up passing to a PSG player.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:24 , Alex Young65min: PSG again enjoying more of the possession. Arsenal have been somewhat deflated by that equaliser being ruled out.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:22 , Alex Young63min: A slip from Kiwior almost lets Dembele in but the PSG forward is a couple of inches, on the stretch from controlling a fizzed pass into the area.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:19 , Alex Young60min: Last-ditch block from Saliba to deny Hakimi inside the area.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
21:16 , Alex YoungThere is just something about Donnarumma and big games. He always seems to rise to the occasion. A huge save there to deny Trossard.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:15 , Alex Young57min: Saka takes the subsequent corner, again to the back post, Merino heads back but PSG clear.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:15 , Alex Young56min: Oh my word, what a save from Donnarumma!
Trossard bears down on the PSG goal, into the area, switches feet and looks certain to tuck into the far post... but Donnarumma’s huge frame gets down to tip it past the post.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
21:13 , Alex Young54min: Simon is right, you can only really hear the PSG fans at the moment as their team pass the ball around Arsenal.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
21:11 , Alex YoungThe Emirates is the quietest it has been after that was ruled out. Feels a hammer blow.
NO GOAL!
21:09 , Alex Young50min: Merino, and plenty of others in red and white, was offside.
That took almost three minutes to decide, for some reason. Emirates deflated again.
48min: Hold on, a VAR check for offside.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 PSG
21:06 , Alex Young47min: The perfect start ot the second half!
Arsenal win an early free kick, Rice curls in a beauty of a delivery and it lands plum on Merino’s head to glance home!
Second half!
21:03 , Alex Young46min: Back underway. No changes.
You wonder if Arteta will make any changes at the break. They were certainly improving as half-time approached but for long spells were chasing shadows.
Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates Stadium
20:53 , Alex YoungPSG were brilliant for the first 20 minutes and looked capable of blowing Arsenal away.
But the Gunners have responded well and can believe in their chances of turning this game around after the break.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
20:53 , Alex YoungWhat a breathless half of football that was. Huge boos at half-time for the referee.
Half-time!
20:48 , Alex Young47min: There’s the whistle.
Fantastic half of football. Raya leaves the pitch waving his arms at the fans.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:48 , Alex Young45min: Martinelli burst forward, past the PSG defence and forces a stunning save from Donnarumma.
Arsenal’s best chance, they have really improved. One minute added on.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:46 , Alex Young44min: Hakimi now into the book for a foul on Timber.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
20:45 , Alex YoungThat is about as unlike a reaction you'll see from Bukayo Saka. Sums up the mood of a lot of Arsenal fans, here.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:45 , Alex Young43min: Now Saka is booked for kicking the ball away! All the Arsenal hits are being played tonight.
Saka is penalised for fouling Neves, which looked really soft, and then boots the bal away.
Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates Stadium
20:43 , Alex YoungThe home crowd is growing frustrated with referee Slavko Vincic but he got that call spot on. Joao Neves got his right foot on the ball to dispossess Merino in a crucial intervention.
Arsenal have come back into the game well after such a gruelling opening 20 minutes, with Saka starting to grow in influence.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:42 , Alex Young40min: Oh my, that was almost glorious from Saka! He creates a yard from nowhere to spin a cross over Donnarumma but almost inches out of reach of Martinelli.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:41 , Alex Young39min: Saka twists and turns to hold off a couple of PSG tackles before whipping a weak shot straight at Donnarumma.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:40 , Alex Young38min: Huge shouts for an Arsenal penalty now, but it’s a superb tackle from Neves on Merino. The referee points at the ball to say ‘he got the ball’ but half the Arsenal fans think he’s pointing for a penalty.
Elation to anguish in milliseconds.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:38 , Alex Young37min: Another Arsenal free kick, this time around 35 yards out or so. Odegaard with a more whipped delivery, and doesn’t beat the first man.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:37 , Alex Young35min: Ruiz clambers all over Saka before finally conceding a foul. The most we’ve seen of Saka so far.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:3633min: Martinelli looks to carve open some space after winning the ball back around 35 yards out, but almost immediately gets tackled. Cue more groans from the home fans.
OFF THE POST!
20:33 , Alex Young31min: PSG so close to a second!
Saliba does brilliantly to prevent Dembele from letting fly, but the PSG man does find Doue to cut inside and force Raya into a brilliant low save... and then Ruiz hits the post from the rebound but the flag is up.
Arsenal are nervous. They are tense.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:31 , Alex Young29min: Kiwior looks to Trossard but they aren’t on the same wavelength and the ball lands at a PSG foot.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:28 , Alex Young26min: Merino with a loose pass towards Odegaard which breaks down a promising move. Not the first time the Spaniard has shown a poor touch.
PSG break and the ball lands at Kvaratskhelia’s feet to force Raya into a low save.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:26 , Alex Young24min: Odegaard does just that, it meets Kiwior’s head and bounces harmlessly into Donnarumma’s arms.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:25 , Alex Young23min: Hakimi bundles over Lewis-Skelly, who was bursting into midfield to start an attack. Huge groans from the home fans and Arteta punches the air in anger.
A chance to float in the ball from 45 yards...
Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates Stadium
20:24 , Alex YoungThe confidence of this PSG is really remarkable. They are playing the game at entirely their own pace so far, and seem completly unaffected by the occasion or the atmosphere.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:22 , Alex Young20min: Another foul by Timber. That’s four by my count and surely a yellow card isn’t far away.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
20:21 , Alex YoungSaka now helping Timber double-up on Kvaratskhelia. PSG winger has been electric, so far.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:20 , Alex Young17min: Timber trips Kvaratskhelia near the touchline, perhaps a bit of afters following that perceived dive. Still, the Arsenal man needs to be careful.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:19 , Alex Young16min: Big calls for a penalty to PSG as Kvaratskhelia takes a tumble in the area, but the referee almost immediately waves it away.
Timber with the arm around him but the PSG man doesn’t half make a meal out of it.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:17 , Alex Young15min: Raya sends a free kick from near the halfway line straight out of play.
They are really not clicking at the moment.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:16 , Alex Young14min: The corner is played short to Doue, who floats a ball to Hakimi on the edge of the area. He waits and then spots Marquinhos’ run, finds him and Raya makes a simple save.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:15 , Alex Young13min: A clumsy foul by Timber on Kvaratskhelia, which was always going to happen. Arsenal still struggling to contain PSG at the moment, who have just won a corner.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
20:13 , Alex YoungDembele causing Arsenal so many problems with his movement. He is dropping very deep, basically in midfield at times, and then driving forward with pace.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:12 , Alex Young11min: PSG try to break through Hakimi, leaving Trossard to furiously track back and foul the right-back... and get booked for his troubles. That looked harsh.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:11 , Alex Young10min: Rice floats to the back post, Merino meets it but gets underneath it and PSG can clear.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:10 , Alex Young9min: Finally some time on the ball for Arsenal and Martinelli wins a corner.
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:10 , Alex Young7min: PSG still with all the possession, almost mesmerising movement.
Doue has just moved past Merino like he wasn’t there.
Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates Stadium
20:08 , Alex YoungIt's a fabulous finish by Ousmane Dembele but PSG were able to drive so easily through the heart of Arsenal's midfield in the build-up.
The absence of Thomas Partey being felt already?
Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:07 , Alex Young5min: Arsenal fans take a moment and are straight back to being at full voice. How do their team react?
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 PSG
20:06 , Alex Young4min: Dembele silences the Emirates and there are flares in the away end!
Arsenal have been chasing shadows and no one is picking up Dembele on the edge of the area, and he just sweeps home in off the far post!
Arsenal 0-0 PSG
20:04 , Alex Young2min: Early foul to PSG as Hakimi is tripped by Merino. PSG with the early possession.
Kick-off!
20:02 , Alex Young1min: ...and we’re underway at the Emirates!
A minute’s silence before kick-off for Pope Francis, who passed away last week.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
20:00 , Alex YoungRice just turned to Trossard and motioned calm with his hands.
Here they come. The Emirates sings Arteta’s name.
The players are in the tunnel.
Arsene Wenger has taken his seat, the Champions League flag is over the centre circle. Almost time.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
19:50 , Alex YoungJust like for Real Madrid, the Emirates is packed 10 minutes before kick-off. Mikel Arteta has got his wish again.
Final prep from both teams. Declan Rice has just told his team-mates: “If we don’t have the ball, we die.”
These two will agree.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
19:40 , Alex YoungGabriel and Jorginho among those pitch-side watching Arsenal warm up. The pair would both love to be involved tonight, but miss out through injury.
Raya to Amazon Prime
19:36 , Alex Young“You have to approach [the game] the same way you approach every game this season, it is important to be part of the journey, and hopefully, we can do everything to win this game.
“The belief is there, we know what we are capable of, especially defensively, it is hard to break us down, but PSG have a lot of threat, especially up top.”
Making a noise
19:35PSG fans are certainly making themselves heard inside the ground.
A little under half an hour until kick-off.
Arteta to Amazon Prime
19:28“We’re excited: it’s a big game, a big night for us and a massive opportunity to take the next step.
“We have to generate one of the most amazing nights at this stadium ... the game is about passion, energy and connecting with people. We’ve all experienced it – when you feel that on the pitch, it makes such a difference.
“We’ve been waiting for this moment for 10 months. In June we started to prepare for moments like this, and now it’s about delivering. Just express yourself and go for it.
“The team look ready. Of course there will be difficult moments, we are prepared for that. Adapt to any context; any context is good for us. Live it, embrace it, and then you have to earn the right to win the game. In order to achieve that, every individual has to step up.”
Arteta speaks on Wenger
19:18 , Alex YoungArsene Wenger is set to be in attendance tonight, a very rare return to the club he left in 2018.
Arteta told Amazon Prime: “I’m only here because of him, so hopefully I can give him something back tonight.”
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
19:03 , Alex YoungQuite wild to think Myles Lewis-Skelly only made his Champions League debut in October, against this PSG side too.
Now, aged 18, he is starting in a semi-final. A remarkable breakthrough season.
Team news from the Emirates
19:02 , Alex YoungAs expected, Merino comes back in for Arsenal after shaking off a knock and moves into midfield to cover the suspended Partey.
Rice moves to a holding midfield role and Trossard will lead the line.
For PSG, Doue does get the nod ahead of Barcola on the right wing. Otherwise it is as predicted from Enrique.
PSG line-up in full
18:57 , Alex YoungPSG XI: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz, Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Subs: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Gonçalo Ramos, Lee, L. Hernandez, Mayulu, Barcola, Zaire-Emery, Lucas Beraldo, Mbaye
Bukayo is in the building
18:52 , Alex YoungThe biggest night of his, and all his team-mates’, Arsenal careers.
Arsenal line-up in full
18:49 , Alex YoungArsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Subs: Neto, Setford, White, Tierney, Zinchenko, Henry-Francis, Nwaneri, Butler-Oyedeji, Kabia, Sterling
Arsenal XI
18:45 , Alex YoungHere’s how the hosts look!
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 29, 2025
🧱 Saliba at the back
🤝 Merino partners Rice
🪄 Trossard leads the line
Let's do this - together 👊
It sounds like Desire Doue has got the nod ahead of Bradley Barcola to start in PSG’s front three.
Confirmed lineups are minutes away.
Simon Collings checks in
18:39 , Alex YoungOur Arsenal reporter is on the scene.
Arsenal v PSG 👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/qPG48rEuch
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) April 29, 2025
Team news is not far off.
PSG fans are on their way
18:23 , Alex YoungMarching towards the Emirates.
Arsene Wenger has had his say
18:14 , Alex YoungArsene Wenger believes Arsenal’s defensive strength could prove the key tonight.
The likes of Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will provide a major test for the Arsenal defence, but Wenger has suggested that his former club’s solidity at the back could be enough to book their place in the final in Munich next month.
“I believe that Arsenal has the potential to do it,” Wenger said.
“But of course once you go to the semi-final, PSG is a very good team as well. Everybody is excited about it and let’s see and hope.
“The teams that go through to the semi-final have some qualities. Then it’s down to the form of the day, the main players who can show their efficiency on the day as well. A little bit as well that you have no sending-off or stupid reaction at some point.
“Overall I believe Arsenal is very solid defensively and over two legs that has a big influence.”
How Arsenal will create special atmosphere tonight
18:05 , Alex YoungArsenal have put plans in place to create the “special” atmosphere that Arteta is looking for in north London.
There will be two tifos on display, including a huge cannon design that will be suspended from the roof of the North Bank stand - which has never been done before. There will also be a huge crowd surfer banner in the East Stand, with the words “make it happen” on it.
Red smoke and fireworks will also be used pre-match, as was the case when Arsenal hosted Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.
Fans have, once again, been encouraged to get to the ground early and Arsenal have organised a “buy one and get one on us” offer on drinks for the first hour that the stadium is open.
Enrique tells Arsenal: PSG are far better now
17:57 , Alex YoungPSG will be a tougher proposition for Arsenal tonight than back in October, when the Gunners ran out comfortable 2-0 winners in a group game at the Emirates.
PSG have since won their fourth straight Ligue 1 title, however, and reached the French Cup final as well as eliminating Premier League champions Liverpool and Aston Villa en route to the Champions League's final four.
Asked about PSG's defeat by Arsenal in October, Luis Enrique told reporters on Monday; "That was seven or eight months ago. I saw the match again. We're a much better team today.
"We had a very intense group phase, with a lot of games that could have been finals. So I think that made things difficult because we were in a difficult position, but it has made us much stronger and we are more complete.
"These are Champions League semi-finals, but they're still two games between two teams with the same goal. The key will be managing the pressure."
An early peak inside the Arsenal dressing room.
Still over two hours until kick-off for what is surely the biggest night in the history of this stadium.
Latest match odds
17:47 , Alex YoungIt looks like the bookies agree with us regarding a probable narrow Arsenal win.
- Arsenal: 23/20
- Draw: 12/5
- PSG: 23/10
(*Odds provided by Betway, subject to change.)
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