Arsenal endured a frustrating 1-0 loss at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. Ousmane Dembele struck in just the third minute, stunning the Emirates crowd and giving PSG a slim advantage to carry back to France.
Optimism was high among Arsenal fans after Mikel Arteta’s side impressively dispatched defending champions Real Madrid in the previous round. But PSG also arrived full of confidence, having eliminated Premier League champions Liverpool and Unai Emery’s Aston Villa earlier in the tournament.
PSG wasted no time, catching Arsenal off guard with a rapid counterattack right after kickoff. Dembele launched the move by feeding Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and then finishing the return pass with a precise shot into the far corner.
Alan Shearer Highlights Key Arsenal Absence
Partey’s suspension seen as a major factor in PSG’s goal
Arsenal’s usual midfield setup—featuring Thomas Partey as the holding midfielder alongside Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard—was disrupted after Partey picked up a needless yellow card against Madrid, ruling him out due to suspension. The booking, which had already annoyed Rice at the time, forced Arteta to reshuffle his lineup.
Mikel Merino was moved into a central role, while Rice dropped deeper to fill Partey’s spot. Although Rice is familiar with the position, Dembele’s early goal highlighted the gap left by Partey’s absence.
Former England striker Alan Shearer, working on Prime Sport’s broadcast, noted that the goal may have been avoidable had Partey been on the pitch. He remarked:
“I’m not sure they would’ve got that ball into Dembele in the third minute. I think he [Partey] would have been there sweeping it up.”
Fans Slam Partey’s Costly Booking
‘Arsenal punished for Partey’s mistake’
Supporters echoed Shearer’s sentiment on social media, voicing their frustration over Partey’s suspension. One user wrote: “That silly Thomas Partey yellow card has left us with a hollow midfield.” Others emphasized how his absence directly led to the defensive lapse that allowed Dembele to score.
Some fans criticized Partey’s decision-making, especially given the Real Madrid tie was already won:
“That Thomas Partey yellow card in Madrid looks more and more stupid with every passing minute.”
The impact of his absence was further emphasized by another post: “Partey’s absence has killed our midfield. Merino is trying his best at 8, but Rice at 6 and Trossard at 9 isn’t sustainable. That yellow cost us two positions.”