Arsenal affirm European credentials with biggest scalp since return to Champions League
ARSENAL 2-0 PSG: The Gunners earned a straight-forward victory against their French opponents at the Emirates in what was a statement success for Mikel Arteta's side
by John Cross · The MirrorLast season was about Arsenal proving they belong back on European football’s biggest stage.
This season might be the year Arsenal prove they can be genuine contenders for the Champions League crown. Mikel Arteta has built something special at the Emirates and, in his five years in charge, has turned Arsenal into Premier League title challengers.
And this felt like their biggest European scalp since they have been back in the Champions League as they swept Paris Saint Germain aside with a mature, controlled performance.
The Gunners did reach the quarter final stage last season after a six year absence from the competition but went out to Bayern Munich having got past Porto, Lens, PSV Eindhoven and Sevilla.
But Arsenal should take a lot of confidence and belief from the way they despatched a genuine European heavyweight. Kai Havertz opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the season while stand-in captain Bukayo Saka clinched it with a free kick which served to highlight PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s vulnerability at set pieces.
It could have been more as Gabriel Martinelli was twice denied by Donnarumma but the victory was also about the way Arsenal then defended, soaked up the pressure and got the win rather than chase more goals.
That showed a level of know-how and belief which was maybe missing last season as so many of Arteta’s squad are still relative rookies in this competition. It is still hard to work out where anyone stands in this new-look Champions League format but this is, on paper at least, the hardest home game and they now have four points from two games after last month’s draw at Atalanta.
Who was Arsenal's man-of-the-match vs PSG? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Whatever the set-up that leaves Arsenal in a healthy state both in the Premier League and in the Champions League with Shakhtar Donetsk up later this month at the Emirates. PSG is no longer a team packed with superstars but they still carry a gravitas which can intimidate opponents. And yet there was no sign of that for Arsenal. In fact, they overwhelmed PSG.
The expectant home fans did not have to wait long for the opener. It arrived in the 20th minute courtesy of a brilliant link-up between Havertz and Leandro Trossard who started up front together. Trossard, with his impish enthusiasm, curled a delightful cross into the box, Havertz beat PSG keeper Donnarumma to the punch and the Germany forward headed into the empty net.
It was a dream start for Arsenal. Incredibly, it was Arsenal’s 450th goal under Arteta’s reign of 241 matches in nearly five years. What a journey it has been back onto European football’s biggest stage. PSG did not roll over and came back as Nuno Mendes’ 20 yard shot hit the outside of a post and then Achraf Hakimi’s near post effort was brilliantly blocked by Gunners keeper David Raya.
But Arsenal found another gear. Saka took a free kick from the right, the England winger’s low ball made it through a sea of legs which deceived Donnarumma and flew into the net.
Worryingly for Arsenal, Jurrien Timber went off at half time and Jakub Kiwior replaced him with Riccardo Calafiori switching to right back. At least Arsenal now have genuine strength in depth. That was underlined with summer signing Mikel Merino coming on for his debut as a substitute just after the hour. The Spain midfielder got a fantastic reception.
In the end, it was comfortable for Arsenal despite PSG pressure which saw Lee Kang-in hit the crossbar. And it shows they belong in this company.
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