Declan Rice captured the temper and flagged up the hazard alerts in his remaining message as Arsenal gathered in a huddle earlier than they confronted the formidable problem of Paris St-Germain.
“If we do not have the ball, we die,” Rice advised his Arsenal team-mates as they completed their warm-up earlier than the Champions League semi-final first leg at Emirates Stadium.
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Arsenal should not fairly lifeless within the tie, however they’re undoubtedly struggling to remain alive as they path 1-0 going into the return in Paris – primarily as a result of they had been unable to hold out Rice’s directions within the essential opening phases that formed the sport.
The stage was set for Arsenal’s first Champions League semi-final in 16 years by an extravagant show of fireworks and pyrotechnics, all towards the backdrop of an enormous banner masking the enormous stands emblazoned with the phrases ‘make it occur’.
It was PSG who made it occur – and made it occur precisely within the method Rice so clearly feared.
Ousmane Dembele’s fourth-minute end throughout Arsenal keeper David Raya from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s supply was the fruits of a 26-pass transfer. It was PSG in a microcosm, Rice’s warning delivered in probably the most painful method.
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To emphasize PSG’s domination within the first exchanges, they’d a complete of 71.6% possession within the first 26 minutes, the interval of the sport during which they threw a bucket of ice chilly water over what had been a white-hot surroundings, laying the platform for the benefit they may take again to Paris for subsequent Wednesday’s second leg.
In that very same interval, PSG had a outstanding passing accuracy of 86.5% in Arsenal’s half, and the overall ratio was 165 passes to 60.
In impact, when Arsenal lastly learn Rice’s memo, a very powerful injury had been inflicted.
Arsenal pulled it round, having 55.4% possession for the remainder of the sport, however Rice knew what was coming and PSG had been just too good to cease early on.
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Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta mentioned: “We’re disenchanted with the end result. We put a lot into the sport. We struggled for the primary 10 or quarter-hour to get momentum and dominance however we’re disenchanted to not get a draw no less than.”
He praised the standard that to Dembele’s purpose, saying: “That’s at all times the hazard. Credit score to them. They get out of a scenario that’s shut. We had seven gamers behind the ball they usually had been medical, generally you simply must recognise the expertise of the person.”
This was a special PSG to the one which in tame style right here in October because the Champions League began its new league desk format, and the way it confirmed.
Within the intervening months, coach Luis Enrique has long-established a PSG facet shot by way of with high quality from again to entrance, whereas his private consideration has introduced one of the best from sensible teenager Want Doue, whereas coaxing one of the best out of the enigmatic Dembele, who flattered to deceive at Barcelona.
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And, in what is perhaps the ultimate flourish of the present transfer away from the so-called ‘Bling Bling’ period of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar, they added the younger Georgia genius Kvaratskhelia to an exciting assault.
The villain of PSG’s piece at Emirates Stadium again in October was big Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who acquired significantly heavy criticism for permitting Bukayo Saka’s free-kick to float in previous him.
PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made up for his Emirates nightmare earlier within the competitors [Reuters]
However since then PSG have minimize a swathe by way of the Premier League elite, as Manchester Metropolis had been overwhelmed within the desk format, Liverpool went out on penalties within the final 16 and Aston Villa adopted within the quarter-finals.
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And Donnarumma has been a key determine.
He made amends for his earlier Emirates nightmare right here with essential saves from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard both facet of half-time.
Arsenal will really feel these alternatives will supply hope in Paris, however they now must take the sport to PSG with measure as they attempt to claw again this slim deficit. In these circumstances, nevertheless, the French champions could discover that method to their liking.
There was frustration for Arsenal when Mikel Merino’s sensible header was dominated out after a Video Assistant Referee test early within the second half.
As PSG exerted such management within the opening half-hour, profitable the ball again with ease as Arsenal reeled, it was simple to see why Rice as soon as once more known as it proper when he expressed such frustration in the direction of his midfield accomplice and disruptor Thomas Partey for selecting up a yellow card within the snug second-leg win towards Actual Madrid on the Bernabeu, ruling him out of this assembly.
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Rice’s similar phrases will little question echo in Arsenal’s ears on the Parc des Princes – however some issues are simpler mentioned than executed and it could already be too late to avoid wasting their ambitions of reaching their first Champions League remaining since they misplaced to Barcelona in Paris in 2006.
Hope will stay on, however PSG have proven what a formidable proposition they’ve change into. They are going to be agency favourites to face both Barcelona or Inter Milan in Munich.
Watch highlights of each Champions League recreation from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport web site and app.
There may also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One on Wednesday, from 22:40.
