Paris Saint-Germain seized a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final clash at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
It was Ousmane Dembélé who delivered the decisive blow just four minutes into the game, finishing a slick PSG move with a first-time strike off the far post. The goal marked his 24th of the season and gave the Parisians a valuable away advantage.
PSG dominated the early stages, exploiting Arsenal’s weakened midfield, with both Thomas Partey (suspension) and Jorginho (injury) unavailable. Despite that, Arsenal gradually grew into the match. Gabriel Martinelli came close to equalizing before halftime, but Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a fine save to keep PSG ahead.
The second half brought more drama. Mikel Merino had the ball in the back of the net, only to see it ruled out for offside. Donnarumma was called into action again to deny Leandro Trossard’s low drive, proving pivotal in preserving PSG’s lead.
Late chances fell to PSG’s Bradley Barcola, who missed a one-on-one opportunity, and Gonçalo Ramos, whose effort rattled the crossbar. Arsenal held firm to avoid further damage, but the challenge now lies ahead.
With the away goals rule no longer in effect, Mikel Arteta’s men must win in Paris to reach their first Champions League final since 2006. The return leg is set for Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at the Parc des Princes. Arsenal will be boosted by the return of Thomas Partey and hope to have key players like Ben White and Kai Havertz fully fit.
It’s all to play for in Paris.