"We're playing just one half," this is the message Mikel Arteta sent to his players after the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against PSG, a match in which The Gunners lost 0-1 at home.
The match at the Emirates showed Arsenal was inferior to the visitors even if they lost only 0-1 after the referee blowed the whistle to satisfy. From the beginning of the Champions League campaign up to now, rarely "Gunners" fell into such a weakness, especially when they had just defeated Real Madrid in both quarter -finals.
Arsenal used reason to beat Real Madrid but still dreamed of a comeback. Meanwhile, against PSG, they suffered a tactical loss. PSG away from home have made Arsenal realize the harsh reality of the Champions League, an arena where they have never won the championship. If Bradley Barcola and Goncalo Ramos' shots were more accurate at the end of the match, the Gooners may no longer dream of a comeback at the Parc des Princes next week.
Although Arsenal are somewhat inferior, looking at the opportunities they create, there is no reason to believe in a Paris coup. If PSG had 2 chances to increase the gap, Arsenal would have almost scored after the shots of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli. Mikel Merino put the ball into the net but unfortunately offside the ball "in a flash" after VAR stepped in to determine.
PSG is emerging as a championship candidate. Therefore, if they defeat this opponent away from home next week, Arsenal will take that position.
"This is really top-flight football, sometimes just a few degree apart is enough to decide your own future. Hopefully in the second leg, the advantage of that gap will be on our side" - Mikel Merino shared on the homepage after the match.
19 years since their last and only Champions League final appearance, Arsenal are trying to turn their own history. 5 years of building with a lot of money have been spent on the Mikel Arteta era, an FA Cup title in 2020 is too modest.
In the return match in France next week, Arsenal will welcome the return of Thomas Partey. Therefore, Declan Rice will be returned to the familiar "number 8" position. In the first leg, having to play as a "number 6" to replace Partey prevented Rice from fully exploiting her ability to support the attack and finish in the second line.
Once Declan Rice returned, Martin Odegaard was also untied more, avoiding the situation of having to support the defense too much, leading to him almost missing in the first leg.
"You need to do something special in the upcoming match to qualify for the final. That time will be in Paris" - Mikel Arteta shared.
