Match report – Player ratings – Arteta reaction – Video
We got our first Champions League win of the season under our belts last night, beating PSG 2-0 thanks to first half goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.
The team saw both Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori start at full-back, with Ben White absent again. The rest was pretty much as expected. The opening stages were quite interesting as the two sides felt each other out. PSG looked to press high, so David Raya went long, playing a superb pass to Gabriel Martinelli that he just couldn’t quite get a touch on.
Calafiori had to defend against Achraf Hakimi, Havertz found some space in behind and played a great ball across but nobody was there, but that move – which included some nice work from Leandro Trossard – was a warning for the visitors. The Belgian created the opener, getting away from his marker on halfway and driving into the PSG half. He cut back inside, saw the run of Havertz and delivered a brilliant ball into the box, which the German headed over the onrushing Gianluigi Donnarumma. The quality of the delivery tempted the Italian goalkeeper to go for it, but the timing of Havertz’s run and header was perfect (it was brave too). That’s six home games in a row in which the German has scored now, and with 5 goals he’s our leading scorer this season so far.
PSG had moments. The battle between Saka and Nuno Mendes at left-back was a fascinating one. The Portuguese defender cracked a shot just wide after he forayed forward, but it was his foul on the Arsenal captain that led to the second. The free kick from out wide was one you’d expect Saka to deliver high into the box, but he went low towards the front post. Arsenal players ran in that direction, PSG defenders didn’t get any contact on it, and I don’t think Donnarumma covered himself in glory – particularly when you see the angle from behind.
It’s the first time we’ve scored from a direct free kick since Martin…
Source link : https://arseblog.com/2024/10/arsenal-2-0-psg-professional-gunners-get-the-job-done/
Author : arseblog
Publish date : 2024-10-02 07:48:35
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.