- LONDON — Ousmane Dembele scored the only goal as Paris Saint-Germain won
1-0 away at Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal
on Wednesday (IST).
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- PSG will carry a one-goal advantage into next Wednesday's
second leg at Parc des Princes after a confident display at Arsenal.
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- PSG started confidently and soon found their reward,
Dembele arriving in the box to guide in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's low cross in
the fourth minute and end a run of five games without a goal in all
competitions, UEFA reports.
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- Unsettling Arsenal with their relentless pressing, Paris
stayed on the front foot and might have doubled their lead in the 31st minute
but for a fine David Raya save from Desore Doue’s driven effort and the
woodwork, which denied Fabián Ruiz after he had collected the rebound.
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- Arsenal did not go in to the break without some
encouragement, though, a promising conclusion to the half ending with Gabriel
Martinelli forcing a smart Gianluigi Donnarumma save after running on to Myles
Lewis-Skelly's precise through ball.
Read: Arsenal held by Palace to leave Liverpool one point from Premier League title
- The hosts maintained that momentum after the break and
looked to have capitalised on it when, with the first chance of the half, Mikel
Merino headed in Declan Rice's free-kick, but the Spain international was ruled
offside.
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- Leandro Trossard was the next to threaten, bearing down
on goal after Rice had charged upfield and released him, but his left-footed
drive was tipped beyond the post by Donnarumma.
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- Paris successfully stemmed the Gunners' flow as the
second half continued, remaining compact and controlling possession to leave
Arsenal frustrated and secure a one-goal advantage ahead of next Wednesday's
second leg, though they would have had a greater cushion had Gonçalo Ramos kept
his 85th-minute effort under the crossbar.
