Tough Night for Arsenal as PSG Claim First-Leg Advantage
Arsenal endured a challenging evening in the home leg of their Champions League semi-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain. The French side got off to a rapid start, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring just four minutes in with a sharp first-time finish.
While the Gunners had opportunities to equalize—most notably through Gianluigi Donnarumma’s key saves and a disallowed Mikel Merino goal due to VAR ruling it offside—PSG were clearly the stronger side and will be pleased to head into next week’s second leg in Paris with a one-goal cushion.
Seedorf Slams Timber’s Performance
Four-time Champions League winner Clarence Seedorf, serving as a pundit for Amazon’s broadcast, didn’t hold back in his analysis. He focused criticism on Arsenal right-back Jurrien Timber, who struggled to contain Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. This came in stark contrast to his recent standout display against Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.
Seedorf described Timber’s repeated fouling of the PSG winger as “stupid,” pointing out poor decision-making in pressing situations. “You need to know when to press, when to hold back,” he explained. “Making unnecessary fouls when pressing high only helps the opposition. It’s poor game management.”
Timber won only three of his ten ground duels and committed four fouls—the most of any Arsenal player—also narrowly avoiding conceding a penalty at one point.
Mentality Under the Microscope
Seedorf also expressed disappointment in Arsenal’s overall approach, suggesting PSG played with the intensity he had expected from the Gunners. “For Arsenal to become true contenders, they need a mentality shift,” he said. “PSG applied the pressure I thought Arsenal would.”
Despite the loss, Arsenal can take encouragement from their recent win at the Bernabeu and Liverpool’s success in Paris earlier this season. However, a stronger display will be essential if they hope to overturn the deficit in the second leg.