Arsenal might gain from a significant UEFA rule change—though it’s one that a Gunners legend doesn’t support.
The Gunners lost 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, making their task in the second leg at the Parc des Princes next Wednesday more challenging.
Ousmane Dembélé scored the only goal in North London to give PSG the edge, and while Bradley Barcola and Gonçalo Ramos had late chances to extend the lead, they failed to convert.
The winner of this tie will face either Barcelona or Inter Milan in the final, after the first leg between those sides ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Camp Nou.
It was that result—and UEFA’s abolition of the away goals rule—that puzzled Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. Since UEFA removed the rule in 2021, goals scored away from home no longer carry extra weight in two-legged ties.
“For me, away goals were crucial. Scoring three away should mean more than drawing 0-0 at home,” Henry said, adding he hadn’t expected Inter to perform so well based on recent form.
Had the old rule still applied, Arsenal could have advanced with a 2-1 or 3-2 win in France. But under current rules, any one-goal victory in Paris—other than 1-0—will only force extra time and possibly penalties.