Composed, clinical, classy Arsenal contenders sweep past PSG

A controlled Champions League performance sees Mikel Arteta's Arsenal lay an early marker as contenders at the top table of European football

Happy Wednesday,

How good were Arsenal on a filthy North London evening?

Superb, I would say, as the Gunners claimed their first Champions League win of the season on a rainy night in Islington, proving far too strong for their Ligue 1 opponents.

Arsenal weren’t so much impressive in their play, although it was still excellent.

No, what was more impressive for me, was the team’s body language, from start to finish.

The side looked so composed, so clinical, so efficient, so haughty even, as if they completely and utterly belonged at that level. They certainly gave the impression that they controlled the game.

There was a confidence, and a belief, that not only coursed through the players, but also fed itself to the fans.

It felt like Mikel Arteta had convinced his side that they are good enough to challenge for this particular trophy, as they swept past French/Qatari billionaire moneybags PSG. And we in turn are starting to believe that too.

And that is no mean feat given that our glorious Gunners only returned to the top table of European football last season, after seven long years out of the mix.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta pictured during his post-match press conference. CREDIT: Layth (@laythy29)

Arteta’s post match reaction

I sat in on Arteta’s post-match presser. Sometimes, I attend because I have a question to ask, sometimes I attend because I want to see what he says. But on Tuesday evening, I attended because I wanted to see what his body language was like.

His tone, his demeanour, his attitude, his answers, were so instructive to seasoned Arteta observers.

They spoke - no roared - that this side has only just started its hunt for trophies, in its quest for the silverware that will ensure Arteta’s Arsenal will make their mark in football, and in the history books.

It spoke of a man - and his team - hungry for success, with the bid for silverware only just begun, after five years of hard work.

Speaking after the match, Arteta said: “We played one of the best teams in the world, they are super dominant in the league, they have so much quality, understanding and tactical options, and we dealt with it really well, with a lot of personality.”

There was quiet, professional satisfaction at having beaten his former club, but that was it.

No patting himself, or his team on the back, no self-congratulatory quotes, nor anything remotely resembling self-indulgent contentment, or gratification. Just a steely-eyed determination to move onto the next game, with a victory that brings his, and our hopes, one step closer.

We’re not dreaming anymore, we’re not hoping, we are in the realms of Arteta delivering on bringing silverware - serious silverware to The Arsenal.

That’s what was so impressive about his team’s clinical performance on the pitch, and Arteta’s no-nonsense attitude off it during Tuesday evening’s post-match media duties.

The fact that Arteta - and his team - believe that they belong in such rarefied company. And are capable of beating such storied sides.

No wonder Arteta added: “I think it raises the confidence and belief that we can compete with any team at that level in European competitions, with the style of games that are very different to the Premier League.

“I think we showed a lot of maturity in the way we played and we put our stamp on the way that we want to behave in Europe against top teams and I really like that.”

Arsenal swept aside PSG in a majestic display at the Emirates on Tuesday evening. CREDIT: Layth (@laythy29)

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DAILY LIST:

I - With my editor’s hat firmly on right now, my only focus for the next few days is pulling together the excellent work of so many outstanding writers and contributors for the next print issue of the Gooner Fanzine, as well as our new Arsenal Women’s digital only edition. Watch this space…

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Arsenal 2-0 PSG match report

My Morning Star newspaper match report from the Emirates press box on Tuesday evening

Arsenal 2-0 PSG: Champions League report by Layth Yousif 

A commanding Champions League performance against the Parisian billionaires funded by Qatari cash, saw victors Arsenal underline money isn’t everything.

On a filthy wet north London evening, Mikel Arteta’s side showcased teamwork, character, courage and commitment, being far more important than mere mammon, when assembling a side with genuine aspirations of challenging for Europe’s most lucrative club tournament.

First half goals by Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka established the home side in a winning position, after an energetic opening 45 minutes.

Speaking after the match, Arteta said: “We played one of the best teams in the world, they are super dominant in the league, they have so much quality, understanding and tactical options, and we dealt with it really well, with a lot of personality.”

Arteta was rewarded for opting for an unchanged starting XI from the side that emerged victorious against Leicester City, at the weekend, against his former side he spoke so warmly about this week.

While Luis Enrique opted to drop the influential Ousmane Dembele for undisclosed disciplinary reasons – and it showed.

On eight minutes Saka, captain for the evening in Martin Odegaard’s continued absence, cut inside to unleash a fierce shot that flew narrowly past Gianluigi Donnarumma’s far post, as the home side made their attacking intentions clear.

Their early dominance was rewarded after 20 minutes, when Havertz showed bravery by grabbing Arsenal’s opener to make it 1-0, with the forward leaping to guide the ball into the net knowing PSG keeper Donnarumma was fast approaching Leandro Trossard’s tempting cross.

On the half hour mark, David Raya blocked Achraf Hakimi’s near post effort, after a flowing PSG move saw the Moroccan right-back display excellent pace to edge past Calafiori along the right channel.

Ten minutes before the interval, Saka scored to make it 2-0.  His free-kick outside the box evading everyone, attack and defence, including keeper Donnarumma, before stealing into the net, to double the home side’s lead.

Jakub Kiwior slotted in at left-back after Jurrien Timber was taken off at half time, with Calafiori moving across to the Netherlands’ international’s right-back position.

Speaking at full-time, Arteta revealed that the substitution was a precautionary measure after the 23-year-old felt a slight muscular issue.

‘He was unbelievable in the first half, but he felt something muscular, and he wasn’t certain,’ the Basque boss said.

PSG, sans Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar, not to mention Angel di Maria, Sergio Ramos, Marco Verratti and Mauro Icardi, who have all been moved on, had their moments, not least when Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves hit the woodwork either side of the interval. Yet, this PSG side is very much in transition, powered by Donnarumma, Marquinhos and Vitinha, who remain, alongside talented youngsters such as 18-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery - but the difference between Enrique’s faltering side, and Arsenal’s relentless confidence was stark.

Arteta even felt secure enough to hand a debut to Mikel Merino, his £31m signing from his home town of San Sebastian, on another memorable evening for the Gunners, as the former Real Sociedad midfielder replaced Thomas Partey midway through the second half, as the home crowd roared their approval.

Reflecting on the victory, Arteta said afterwards of his burgeoning team: “We can match them up against a team that raises the level, especially when one of the big teams come here, and still create a performance to beat them and deserve to win, it’s a good sign.”

Victoria Concordia Crescit. CREDIT: Arsenał FC

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Player Ratings

Arsenal Player Ratings:

David Raya: 7/10 - Had to be alert despite Arsenal’s attacking dominance. Such high levels of concentration were rewarded when the 29-year-old blocked Hakimi[‘s fierce near post effort before the Gunners made it 2-0

Jurrien Timber: 7.5/10 - Such an excellent addition to the team, now the Netherlands international is fit again. Dovetailed well with captain Saka during forays down the right flank. Taken off at half time, hopefully as a precautionary measure rather than anything too serious one hopes

Willian Saliba: 7.5/10 - A world class showing against his compatriots

Gabriel: 7.5/10 - Solid and reliable

Riccardo Calafiori: 6/10 - A muscular, athletic presence along the backline, and a maverick when stepping forward into left midfield. Has to control his temper when engaging in a contretemps with PSG’s Fabian Ruiz with the game won. Lucky not to be penalised for handball moments later

Declan Rice: 8/10 - Majestic in midfield relishing the extra space and time afforded by Dembele’s omission

Thomas Partey: 7.5/10 - A battling performance in the heart of midfield before being replaced by Mikel Merino who made his Arsenal debut midway through the second half

Leandro Trossard: 7.5/10 - Another lively performance, with an excellent assist for Havertz’s opener. Never let the PSG backline settle before beign replaced by Jesus on 73 minutes

Bukayo Saka: 8/10 - Captain for the evening in Martin Odegaard’s continued absence. His threat, not to mention industriousness deserved a goal, which came direct from a free-kick, albeit, inadvertently as the ball evaded defence and attack on its way into the PSG net

Kai Havertz: 7.5/10 - Another who worked well with Saka in penetrating the right flank. Showed bravery when leaping to head home the Gunners opener

Gabi Martinelli: 7/10 - A lively performance down the left flank, clearly boosted by his strike against Leicester for first goal since the 6-0 rout at Sheffield United last March. Never let PSG’s Lee settle

Substitutes:

Jakub Kiwior: 7/10 - Slotted in at left-back after the Polish defender replaced Jurrien Timber at half time with Riccardo Calafiori moving across to the Netherlands’ international’s right-back position

Mikel Merino: 7/10 - Made his Arsenal debut when replacing Thomas Partey midway through the second half with the game won

Gabriel Jesus: 7/10 - Replaced Trossard with 17 minutes remaining

Myles Lewis-Skelly: 7/10 - Replaced Saka late on with the crowd acclaiming both players

Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly. The future is now. CREDIT: Arsenal FC