Arsenal Vs PSG Match Review
It's Champions League week again, and this time, the competition has reached another climax as the first leg of the semifinals kicked off this evening between Arsenal and PSG at the Emirates Stadium. I watched this match for the whole 90 minutes and noticed some things which I will share in this post. Arsenal and PSG in the competition have been fantastic this season. If they were not good, both wouldn't be facing each other in the semifinals of the competition this season. Arsenal is having a fair season in the Premier League as they sit in second place on the table this season.
PSG, on the other hand, has been astonishing this season. They are Ligue 1 champions and have only lost a game in the league this season. Today's match just proves one thing for me which is Barcelona will destroy PSG if they meet in the final. Liverpool had their chance and I am pissed that the boys didn't do everything in their power to beat PSG in the round of sixteen. In the first 20 minutes of the first half between Arsenal and PSG, it was clear PSG dominated the field before scoring the first and only goal of the match.
After that first 20 minutes, everything changed as PSG lost control of the match to Arsenal, who, in my opinion, were lacking creativity in the match today. Arsenal didn't press PSG as they should, as most of the time PSG had the ball. The Arsenal players just dropped back to defend as they used their low-block method, and this is where things get intriguing now. If it was Barcelona that played PSG this evening, I am sure PSG wouldn't have gotten any chance to pass the ball around like how they did today. Hansi Flick Barcelona pressed high against their opponents with their Highline defence which made it difficult for the opposition team to start play from the back.
When you see a player like Raphinha charging towards the defence every second for the full 90 minutes, it will put the defenders on their toes not to hold the ball at the back for too long, and that is what Arsenal lacked in today's game. I am sure if Arsenal had put pressure on PSG's defence instead of waiting for them to build up play from the back, this match would have turned out differently. The creativity in the midfield was another issue Arsenal had against PSG this evening. No one could deliver a decisive pass behind Arsenal's defence, and I get why Thomas Partey is important in the midfield for the Gunners.
The second leg of the competition will be played in Paris next week. One way or the other, we are going to get a winner from that match, and, if possible, Arsenal could make a comeback next week to knock out PSG from the competition. There is still more Champions League football to be played tomorrow as Spanish giant Barcelona will go head-to-head against Inter Milan. It's going to be one intense match, but I look forward to the fine result. So, guys, thanks for stopping by, and have a good day.