Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal still have a “big chance” of reaching the Champions League final after his Arsenal fell to a 1-0 defeat to PSG.
The Gunners were stunned early on as Ousmane Dembele put a perfectly placed shot in the net just three minutes after the semi-final first leg kicked off.
Mikel Merino thought he had canceled out the opener shortly after the interval when he headed in from a Declan Rice free kick, but the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review.
Arsenal couldn’t find a breakthrough before the final whistle at the Emirates Stadium, meaning they will need to overturn a one-goal deficit in Paris in a fortnight’s time if they are to reach this year’s final.
Mikel Arteta ‘disappointed’ as PSG narrowly defeat Arsenal
“Disappointed with the result,” Arteta told Amazon Prime Video at full time. “We put so much into the game. We struggled first 10-15 minutes to get momentum and dominance. Disappointed not to get a draw at least.”
Arsenal were well positioned to prevent the opportunity from which Dembele scored, but the French winger took advantage of Declan Rice vacating the edge of the area to double team Kvicha Kvaratskhelia.
“That is always the danger, credit to them,” Arteta said. “They get out of a situation that is close. We had seven players behind the ball and they were clinical, sometimes you just have to recognise the talent of the individual.”
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The north London outfit did have their chances to equalise, but were foiled by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and VAR.
“Great timing, the margins, millimetres offside,” the Arsenal boss added. “The action of [Gabriel] Martinelli one-on-one, he has done that before. [Leandro] Trossard in a one-on-one and he [Donnarumma] makes the save. That’s the margins, that’s the level.”
Thomas Partey missed the game through suspension, but Arteta felt the midfield played well in his absence.
“I think Declan and Mikel were enormous,” he said. “He gives options and a different threat. It gives us flexibility to change the game.”
Arteta concluded: “It’s half-time and we have a big chance to be in the final.”
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