Arsenal got a pair of first-half goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, en route to a perfectly comfortable 2-0 victory over PSG in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
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That’s Arsenal’s first win in the new Champions League league phase after they battled Atalanta to a 0-0 draw last month. Mikel Arteta’s side currently sits 8th in the table, from which 24 teams will advance to the knockout rounds. The top-eight will earn a bye, as sides 9-24 are thrown straight into the fire.
The Gunners scored from their first real opportunity of the game in the 20th minute, when Leandro Trossard picked out Havertz with a high, curling cross into the penalty area. Havertz beat the out-rushing Gianluigi Donnarruma to the spot and bent a header just inside of the far post.
Saka made it 2-0 in the 35th, but again, it was hardly a cleverly crafted scoring chance as Arsenal continue to shy away from the final third in captain Martin Odegaard’s absence. Saka sent another looping ball into the box, only this time everyone decided to not touch it — Donnarruma included — and so it bounced into the goal all the way from the sideline.
Arteta has previously indicated that Odegaard isn’t likely to return before the October international break.
Player ratings - Arsenal vs PSG
What’s next?
- Arsenal vs Southampton - Saturday (10 am ET) | Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk (next UCL fixture) - Oct. 22
- Nice vs PSG - Sunday (2:45 pm ET) | PSG vs PSV Eindhoven (next UCL fixture) - Oct. 22
Arsenal vs PSG updates - by Andy Edwards
Arsenal vs PSG final score: 2-0
Goalscorers: Kai Havertz (20'), Bukayo Saka (35')
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 PSG: Bukayo Saka’s free kick touches no one and goes in
SAKA'S FREE KICK GOES ALL THE WAY 💫 pic.twitter.com/zgNM1IsG3k
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 1, 2024
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 PSG: Kai Havertz heads home Leandro Trossard’s cross
£60m down the drain 😉🎵 pic.twitter.com/gThYbjBnoA
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 1, 2024
Arsenal starting lineup
Raya - Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori - Partey, Rice, Trossard - Saka, Martinelli, Havertz
PSG starting lineup
Donnarumma - Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes - Vitinha, Zaire-Emery, Neves - Doue, Barcola, Lee
How to watch Arsenal vs PSG live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Tuesday (October 1)
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
How to watch: Stream on Paramount+ and TUDN USA
Arsenal team news, focus
The likes of Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney remain out, while Mikel Merino is a doubt and the duo of Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White are “in contention” as the latter missed the win against Leicester. In that victory Gabriel Martinelli stepped up with a big performance and Raheem Sterling had a big impact off the bench after Arsenal had surprisingly coughed up a 2-0 lead then scored twice in stoppage time to win. There’s a different aura around this Arsenal team and even with so many injuries, they’re getting it done. Someway. Somehow. Havertz, Saka and Martinelli will likely start in attack again, with Jesus and Sterling great impact subs and the duo of Declan Rice and Thomas Partey in midfield have been so solid in the absence of Odegaard. This may be a game where Jorginho starts as Arsenal try to wrestle control of midfield to stop PSG dictating the tempo.
PSG team news, focus
Enrique’s side are lovely to watch, keep the ball so well and midfielder Fabian Ruiz is running the show on the back of his sensational EURO 2024 for Spain. In attack Barcola, Kolo Muani and Lee give PSG a huge threat on the counter and a lovely balance with incisive, tricky play. The likes of Hakimi and Marquinhos will provide defensive solidity and experience, with Hakimi set for a great battle with Jurrien Timber down that flank. In injury news PSG are without Lucas Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe and Goncalo Ramos, while influential midfielder Vitinha and star goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma have been missing recently but are both in their squad. Nuno Mendes has recovered from illness but all of these injury issues means PSG are stretched to their limits and make Arsenal’s problems seem pretty tame.
Arsenal vs PSG prediction
Given that Arsenal are at home, look solid defensively and are a threat on the counter, this seems like a game which suits them as PSG are susceptible to be being caught on the counter. With this huge game happening so early in the group stage, it will be tight and both teams would probably take a draw. The Gunners will just edge it. Arsenal 2-1 PSG.
