Arsenal grabbed a vital 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the second round of the Champions League group stage. The match, held at Emirates Stadium, had its result in the first half with the goals of Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. Gunners went into the seventh position in the standings with four points while PSG, with the defeat tumbled into 18th position.
Follow Playing for 90 on X (Twitter).
Dominance of Gunners
Mikel Arteta's team came out aggressive, putting pressure on PSG from the opening minutes. Then, in the 19th minute, Trossard made a play down the left and delivered a precise cross to Havertz, who beat Donnarumma with a header to open the scoring. The second goal came in the 34th minute, with Saka delivering a beautiful free kick that doubled the home team's advantage.
After the match, a beaming Arteta praised his team's performance: "Particularly the way we played in the first half, the way we were brave, determined, and showed quality against a team of this level, being dominant and scoring two goals in that way was essential," said the coach. He then supported that created chances needed to be taken advantage of: "We wanted to keep dominating in the second half but couldn't be as effective with the ball.
PSG attempts to react, but Arsenal conquers
In the early stages of the second half, PSG did attempt to put things right and push against Arsenal, but the English marched back to cover their advantage and didn't let the French develop any possibilities. Although much stronger after Luis Enrique's substitutions, Arsenal bossed the pace of the game and most importantly kept the defensive aspect of things tight.
Arteta acknowledged the test at sustaining the intensity: "PSG's changes obliged us to play in different areas, we had more difficulties, but the team dealt well. We had three big chances to score a third goal, and that would have killed the game. We didn't, but we stayed focused."
Kai Havertz: intelligence and strength
One of the standout players of Arsenal on the night was Kai Havertz, who earned special praise from Arteta. The manager singled out Havertz's intelligence within the game and how he usually influences the attacking displays. "He was so strong but also very smart. The way he finds space and connects the team is impressive. His work ethic is fantastic, and now he's getting close to goal, giving you the feeling he's always going to score. The goal was superb, and his overall performance was excellent."
Saka, the set-piece maestro
Another key player was Bukayo Saka. In addition to scoring a brilliant free kick, the young Englishman was a serious menace to PSG's defense, creating opportunities and being involved in moves that could have extended the scoreline.
Arteta was not beating around the bush about his feelings toward Saka's development. "He's a special talent. What he did today was incredible, not just with the goal but in how he played and helped the team. He's a player who steps up in big games and is always there when we need him."
Win that meant much to Arsenal
A win against PSG will be quite a moment for Arsenal, considering not only the standing position but also the psychological boost that it would be for the team. Beating a European giant like PSG beefs up the squad's confidence and proves the fact that the Gunners are ready to face the best on the continent.
Arteta spoke to the win's impact on his squad's mentality: "These wins create special European nights. They lift the spirit and energy of everyone. Believing you can beat these teams is the first step, and tonight we showed we're good enough to compete at the highest level.".
Despite the win, Arteta remained very reserved and warned against the perils that still lie in wait. "It's too early to talk about qualification. We still have many tough games ahead, both at home and away. We need to adapt to that and stay focused on our performances," added the coach.