Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka led Arsenal to a 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, marking the Gunners’ first win in this season’s Champions League.
Havertz opened the scoring with a header, and Saka added a second goal before halftime, showcasing Arsenal’s dominance at the Emirates Stadium.
After drawing their first group stage match against Atalanta, Mikel Arteta’s team now sits on four points as they aim for a spot in the knockout stage of the restructured tournament.
Referee Slavko Vincic officiated the match as PSG’s Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho fouled Havertz during the game, which took place in north London on October 1, 2024.
After being eliminated by Bayern Munich in last season’s quarter-finals and narrowly missing the English title to Manchester City, Arsenal remains unbeaten in nine games across all competitions this season, pursuing silverware on multiple fronts.
In further positive news for Arsenal, Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino made his long-awaited debut, coming on for the final 30 minutes. Merino’s return from a shoulder injury, sustained in his first training session after joining from Real Sociedad, is a boost for Arteta, especially with Martin Ødegaard currently unavailable.
PSG welcomed back Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal after he missed the last three matches due to a thigh injury. He faced an early test when he rushed off his line to save a shot from Gabriel Martinelli.
Saka, who captained Arsenal for the evening, quickly shifted the momentum in favor of the hosts, curling a shot just over the bar from the edge of the area.
Havertz rewarded Arsenal’s sustained pressure by scoring the opener in the 20th minute. Leandro Trossard delivered a precise cross into the six-yard box, and Havertz made a perfectly timed run behind PSG’s defense to head the ball past the advancing Donnarumma.
Since his £65 million move from Chelsea last year, Havertz has had a rocky start at Arsenal. However, since February, he has accumulated 21 goals and assists across all competitions, silencing critics who labeled him a ‘waste of money.’
PSG’s chances were hampered by the absence of French winger Ousmane Dembélé, who was left out following a reported altercation with manager Luis Enrique during a recent match.
With Kylian Mbappé’s transfer to Real Madrid, Dembélé is considered PSG’s most dangerous attacking player. Nuno Mendes attempted to ignite an attack, but his powerful strike from 18 yards hit the post and bounced clear.
Arsenal maintained control throughout the match, and Saka doubled their lead in the 35th minute. Under the guidance of set-piece specialist Nicolas Jover, Arsenal has become effective at capitalizing on free kicks and corners, areas where PSG has often struggled.
Saka delivered an inswinging free-kick aimed at the goal, and instead of a teammate making contact, the ball swerved past a group of players, catching a slow-reacting Donnarumma off guard as it found the net.
Since the start of last season, only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior have been involved in more Champions League goals than Saka.
Trossard narrowly missed extending the lead before halftime, as PSG’s shaky defense appeared more reminiscent of League One than Ligue 1. Donnarumma made a crucial save to deny Martinelli’s volley early in the second half, but PSG nearly found a lifeline when João Neves’ shot struck the crossbar.
On a rainy evening in north London, Arsenal solidified their advantage in the closing stages, securing a significant victory.