Arsenal proved they are likely to be Champions League contenders this year with a convincing 2-0 defeat of Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates tonight.
Kai Havertz set them on their way after 20 minutes and Bukayo Saka doubled the advantage not long afterwards with PSG looking lightweight in the absence of the departed Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, who was left out for disciplinary reasons.
Arsenal were not at their free-flowing best but saw out the second half with few alarms to register their first win in the competition this season.
The first period was largely one-way traffic with Arsenal dominating and PSG struggling to find a way through a frenetic press.
The visitors had Gianluigi Donnarumma back in goal following a three-game absence due to a thigh injury and the Italy international had to be alert after just three minutes to snuff out the danger as Gabriel Martinelli tried to wriggle through.
Donnarumma was flying to his right five minutes later but, luckily for him, the shot from Saka flashed just over the bar.
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Havertz enjoys home comforts – again
The former Milan stopper was at fault for Arsenal’s opener after 20 minutes, however. Leandro Trossard cut in from the left-flank and clipped in a cross that was aimed for Havertz and the Germany forward rose above Donnarumma and planted his header into an empty net.
Kai Havertz heads Arsenal into the lead 💥
How about that ball from Leandro Trossard? 👏#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/Glzghe7GQm
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) October 1, 2024
It was the sixth successive game at the Emirates in which Havertz has scored.
PSG had offered nothing as an attacking threat in the first 27 minutes but almost dragged themselves level twice in four minutes.
First Nuno Mendes strode forward from left-back and fired in a shot that clipped the foot of the right-hand post before going wide. And shortly afterwards, right-back Achraf Hakimi got to the byline and his cross-shot required a smart block from David Raya in the Arsenal goal.
Arsenal extended their advantage 10 minutes before the break. The set-piece specialists got a free-kick on the right touchline and Saka’s low cross evaded the Arsenal players descending on the near post and drifted in without a touch.
The set-piece kings are at it again 👑
No player could get a touch on Bukayo Saka’s free-kick which ends up beating the goalkeeper ✌️#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/uqrG8n5AXs
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) October 1, 2024
Arsenal remain in cruise control
The home side continued to look threatening after the break and only a fine save from Donnarumma prevented Martinelli from making it 3-0.
Summer signing Mikel Merino made his delayed Arsenal debut when coming on for Thomas Partey after 64 minutes and his introduction may have caused a little uncertainty defending set-pieces as PSG almost found a way back into the game two minutes later.
Mendes’ left-wing corner was directed to the near post where Joao Neves flicked it on to the bar with Raya beaten.
Raya was called into action again after 68 minutes, re-adjusting his body well to parry Lee Kang-In’s long-range shot.
Arsenal were growing increasingly content to sit back and preserve what they had.
And that allowed PSG more time on the ball and they had two penalty shouts, neither of which were given, the first for a Riccardo Calafiori handball and the second when Randal Kolo Muani went down after a coming-together with Declan Rice.
PSG failed to threaten again, though, as Arsenal saw the game out with relative ease.
The Gunners now have four points from their two games following the Matchday One goalless draw at Atalanta.
