In the cloud since the resumption in August – six wins in seven games, only one misstep in Reims (1-1) – Paris Saint-Germain suddenly returned to earth, on Tuesday, October 1, given the nature of their defeat at Arsenal. pitch (0-2). Facing an opponent they had never beaten in four meetings, the capital club knew what was waiting for them. Overwhelmed, he finally exposed his first shortcomings of the season and understood the difference in level that separates him from a club with European ambitions as high as his.
After the meeting, before the Canal+ microphone, Marquinhos, the Parisian captain, agreed that “For the Champions League we have to do much more than that”. Even more so when PSG faces another big European name for the first time and decides to do without Ousmane Dembélé for the occasion. The Parisian winger was thus deprived of a trip to London, separated by Luis Enrique, who did not judge him “in the best possible conditions”. In other words, not in tune with the collective.
Confident despite the absence of one of his best players at the start of the season, the Parisian coach was, despite himself, clumsy in a press conference on Monday, stating that “Dembélé was there against Newcastle, against Milan, against Dortmund [la saison dernière en C1] and still we lost”. The question raised by Dembélé’s absence, in reality, was whether PSG would be able to beat Arsenal without him. The answer is no and, given the game, it cannot be said that things would have gone much better with him.
The enterprising, dominant and aggressive Paris that Luis Enrique dreams of will have only shown a third of its best side at the Emirates Stadium, and only in the last half hour. It was then that Lee Kang-in forced David Raya to make a difficult save (68th), and Joao Neves found the crossbar on a corner kick (66th). Unfortunately, PSG had already hit the post in the first half with Nuno Mendes (28th). For the rest, a shot from very close range by Achraf Hakimi (31st)… and little else.
“This match will help us for the future”
“We had very few opportunities”Marquinhos confirmed. The capital club, however, shot more than its rival (ten shots against six, with less dangerous attempts), but the Gunners left a much better impression. Confident in their subject, able to take advantage of their strong moments and manage their weak moments. “We had to be better than them on both surfaces and that’s what we did”welcomed William Saliba on Canal+.
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