Why Luis Enrique and PSG have already left Arsenal one last Champions League semi-final advantage

Arsenal have a steep hill to climb in Paris next week but they do still have hope in the Champions League semi-finals. Inspired goalkeeper from David Raya and profligacy from Luis Enrique's attackers mean that the tie is more than open at the halfway stage.

Paris Saint-Germain could and should have scored more than once at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night but Arsenal themselves came close on several occasions.

PSG were the better side, thoughwith Gianluigi Donnarumma in a defiant mood behind it.

Given that PSG have already overcome Liverpool and Aston Villa, showing a mixture of brilliant play, resilience, and fighting skills, Arsenal know they have it all to do away from home. PSG have lost three homes all season and only once by more than a single goal.

The good news is that this came last time out when they welcomed Nice to the French capital last Friday. The bad news is that the match was played with PSG already crowned as Ligue 1 champions.

Their only motivation for several months has been to maintain an unbeaten record. That ended on matchday 31 in crushing fashion, but shows just what Arsenal are up against.

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Even in the defeat, Enrique's men racked up 32 shots, an xG (expected goals) of 3.16, and forced Marcin Bullka into 12 saves. For comparison, Nice scored with all three of their efforts on target.

This result was meant to give Arsenal hope in the Champions League but that did not play out as PSG hit their stride immediately in north London.

PSG's rapid start largely knocked the stuffing and hope out of the Arsenal supporters, too.

Arsenal gave up their home advantage and will now have to perform at their peak in what is sure to be a cauldron of noise at the Parc des Princes. PSG will have flares, a larger section of ultras, and if their away end is anything to go by, plenty of energy throughout.

It will be a challenge for this Arsenal team in its current form. They are missing key parts with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes out.

Manchester City and Nice are the only two teams to score more than once away to PSG in 2025, and there are just two other teams to have done it all season. Arsenal know they will need to add to that list if they are to go through, at least without extra time and penalties.

There is a glimmer of light here. PSG have lost in each of their last two knockout rounds in the Champions League and Arsenal will at least level the tie if they manage to do the same. Albeit their defeat to Villa came as part of a winning cause after a 3-1 first leg lead and then going 5-1 up on aggregate at one stage, they are fallible.

Liverpool had to rely on goalkeeper Alisson to produce some Donnarumma-like heroics in their away win as well but nevertheless, it was done. PSG have shown a weakness in front of goal in some games, including at the Emirates Stadium where they did not bring the killer instinct.

That is also at odds with the quality of Ousmane Dembele's finish. In that moment PSG cut through Arsenal and found the smallest of gaps (via the post) to go ahead. They have been wasteful and unfortunate as well.

This will bring plenty of reason for Arsenal to go again. City managed to work a 2-0 lead away to PSG before a fighting comeback which was ultimately decisive in them securing a place in the knockout play-offs.

Earlier in the season, when PSG were a different team, they were beaten by Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid as well. , as well as the addition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from January.

But whilst PSG have looked sensational throughout most of the year they are not invincible. Arsenal will need to believe that when they return for the second leg because for they were left in a state of shock at home and it could go a long way to deciding who ends up in the final.