Kai Havertz opened the scoring for Arsenal against PSG (Image: Getty)
Arsenal secured their first Champions League victory of the campaign with a 2-0 victory over a lacklustre Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium. First-half goals by Kai Havertz and stand-in captain Bukayo Saka were enough to seal an impressive triumph.
Havertz headed in from Leandro Trossard's cross in the 20th minute before Saka's set-piece was allowed to drift all the way in 15 minutes later. This was an important three points in the new league format of the European competition, with Mikel Arteta's side drawing their first match against Atalanta.
Arsenal sat back for much of the second half, allowing a toothless PSG to control possession. But a fightback never seemed on the cards.
Express Sport looks at four talking points on a comfortable night for Arsenal.
Arsenal’s critics scoffed at the absence of an elite striker in Arteta’s squad, claiming they could not challenge without a forward capable of scoring upwards of 30 goals per season. They are not laughing anymore.
Havertz is flourishing as the central figure in Arsenal’s attack. Taking up positions slightly deeper than a traditional centre-forward might be expected to adopt, the German is reprising the false nine role and looks capable of scoring as many as he likes this season.
He opened the scoring with a towering header, looping the ball over the onrushing Gianluigi Donnarumma. It took Havertz 26 matches to score five goals last season - he has already matched that figure in nine appearances this term.
Gianluigi Donnarumma failed to keep out Bukayo Saka's free kick (Image: Getty)
Set-piece fortune
Arteta’s side were not at their brilliant best from set-pieces but they did not need to be. Instead, they were gifted their second goal by some dismal PSG defending.
Saka’s low delivery from the right should have been easily cleared, and at the very least should have been collected by Donnarumma. But some hesitancy amid Thomas Partey battling to flick the ball on, PSG’s defenders and their goalkeeper allowed the cross to go all the way through and into the net.
PSG’s improvement
Arsenal struggled to maintain their dominance in the second half. PSG might be frustrated that they failed to mount a comeback, coming close on several occasions.
Joao Neves flicked a cross onto the crossbar before Kang-in Lee’s swerving effort from distance forced a good save from David Raya. This was not the PSG of a couple of years ago, though, having offloaded several expensive stars in favour of younger talent. Arsenal were relatively comfortable throughout.
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Merino makes debut
Mikel Merino made his long-awaited debut midway through the second half, replacing Partey. The Spaniard injured his shoulder during his first training session after his summer switch from Real Sociedad, and had played no competitive football since the Euro 2024 quarter-final.
Midfielder Merino will therefore be eased in at Arsenal. But his introduction at the Emirates Stadium will come as a major boost to Arteta, who has already faced injury issues this season. The 28-year-old, who once had a spell at Newcastle, can fill in for Martin Odegaard while the club captain is out with an ankle injury.
Merino was tidy on his first outing in an Arsenal shirt, deployed in central midfield alongside Declan Rice.
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