Gunners Boss Insists Tie Is Wide Open Despite 1-0 Defeat, Credits Donnarumma for Stellar Saves
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes Paris Saint-Germain should count themselves lucky after his side failed to convert multiple chances in a tightly contested 1-0 defeat in the Champions League semi-final first leg.
Ousmane Dembélé’s early strike after just four minutes gave PSG the advantage at the Emirates, but Arsenal fought back, only to be denied by a series of stunning saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma. Despite the loss, Arteta remained defiant, insisting the tie is far from over ahead of next week’s decisive second leg in Paris.
“It’s only half-time, “I said the same thing after we beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the quarter-finals—now we go to Paris, win the game, and we’re through. That’s our mindset.”
The match was an intense battle, with both teams creating opportunities. PSG started brightly, but Arsenal grew into the game, testing Donnarumma multiple times. The Italian goalkeeper’s heroics—including two spectacular stops—kept the Gunners at bay.
When asked if he was relieved PSG only scored once, Arteta fired back: “They should be relieved we didn’t score two or three! The margins in these games are so fine—their keeper made the difference tonight.”
Arteta pinpointed Arsenal’s inability to finish chances as the key issue, lamenting missed opportunities. “We had the shots, the moments, but we just couldn’t put them away,” he said.
Despite the setback, the Arsenal boss remained optimistic, emphasizing that his team will regroup before the return leg. First, however, the Gunners must shift focus to the Premier League, where they host Bournemouth this weekend.
With everything still to play for, Arteta’s message was clear: “This isn’t over. We’ll fight until the end.”
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