Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka inspired Arsenal’s 2-0 success against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday as the Gunners secured their first win in the Champions League this season.
Havertz headed Arsenal into the lead and Saka netted before the interval to underline their superiority at the Emirates Stadium.
After drawing their opening league phase tie at Atalanta, Mikel Arteta’s side moved onto four points in their bid to reach the knockout stage of the revamped tournament.
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Premier League legend Frank Lampard said Arsenal had “taught a bit of a lesson” to PSG, who were weaker and less aggressive both on and off the ball.
Meanwhile, Oliver Holt wrote in the Daily Mail that the win announces Arsenal as one of the favourites to win the competition.
“Arsenal were not at their best but they did not have to be. PSG may not be favourites to win the Champions League but they are counted among the contenders and Arsenal made beating them look relatively routine,” he wrote.
“They deserve to be among the favourites. With City and Real Madrid, they, not PSG, look like a team to fear.”
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Eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals last season and pipped to the English title by Manchester City, the Gunners are now unbeaten in nine games in all competitions this term as they chase silverware on both fronts.
There was further good news for Arsenal as Spain midfielder Mikel Merino made his long-awaited debut for the last 30 minutes.
Merino’s recovery from a shoulder injury suffered in his first training session following his close-season move from Real Sociedad was a welcome boost for Arteta with Martin Odegaard currently sidelined.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was back in goal for PSG after missing the last three games with a thigh injury and the Italian had an early test of his fitness as he sprinted off his line to save at Gabriel Martinelli’s feet.
Saka, captaining Arsenal for the night, quickly switched the momentum in the hosts’ favour when he cut in from the right flank to curl just over from the edge of the area.
Havertz rewarded Arsenal’s relentless pressure with the opener in the 20th minute.
Leandro Trossard curled a pinpoint cross into the six-yard box and Havertz made a perfectly-timed run behind the visitors’ flat-footed defence to bravely head past the advancing Donnarumma.
The Germany forward, who scored Chelsea’s Champions League final winner in 2021, endured a difficult start with Arsenal after moving across London for £65 million ($86 million) last year.
But since the start of February, only three Premier League players have more combined goals and assists in all competitions than Havertz’s tally of 21 as he banishes the ‘waste of money’ jibes.
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– COMPOSED ARSENAL –
PSG’s cause wasn’t helped by the absence of France winger Ousmane Dembele, who was left out after the 2018 World Cup winner’s reported clash with boss Luis Enrique when he was substituted in their win over Rennes on Friday.
Dembele is PSG’s most potent attacking force following Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid.
Nuno Mendes tried to provide an attacking spark for the spluttering visitors as the defender’s blast from 18 yards smashed off the post and bounced to safety.
But Arsenal were always in control and Saka doubled their advantage in the 35th minute.
Under the guidance of their set-piece guru Nicolas Jover, Arsenal have become lethal from free-kicks and corners, while PSG are notoriously deficient in that area.
So it was little surprise that Arteta’s team were able to capitalise on their dead-ball expertise yet again.
Whipping an in swinging free-kick towards Donnarumma’s goal, the England forward expected a teammate to get a touch on his delivery.
Instead, there was enough swerve on the ball that it eluded a gaggle of players and caught the slow-to-react Donnarumma unsighted as it flashed into the net.
Only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior have been involved in more Champions League goals than Saka since the start of last season.
Trossard shot just wide before halftime as PSG’s creaky defence looked more League One than Ligue 1.
Donnarumma made a fine save to keep out Martinelli’s volley soon after the interval, but PSG were inches away from grabbing a lifeline when Joao Neves’ effort smacked off the bar.
On a rainy evening in north London, Arsenal battened down the hatches in the closing stages as they eased to a significant victory.smg/nf
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LEWANDOWSKI HITS BRACE AS BARCA CRUSH YOUNG BOYS
Robert Lewandowski struck twice for Barcelona as they demolished Young Boys 5-0 in a one-sided Champions League clash on Tuesday.
The Catalan giants, five-time winners, made amends for their defeat by Monaco in their first match by thumping their Swiss visitors.
Raphinha and Inigo Martinez strikes as well as an own goal helped Hansi Flick’s side secure a sizeable victory and boost their goal difference significantly.
“We knew after the game against Monaco in the Champions League we had to give a quick reply in the next game, which was this one, and we did that well,” Raphinha told Movistar.
“A couple of days ago we lost a game in La Liga too (at Osasuna) and we had to give a quick response, and we did that.
“It’s much easier playing here at home because of the joy (the fans) give us.” Raphinha said with the expanded Champions League format and one table for all the teams, it was useful to build a good goal difference.
“It’s important to score so many goals because at the end of the eight games, it will be handy,” he added.
Barca coach Flick rolled out arguably his strongest available team after the loss at Monaco, despite the Swiss side’s struggles.
Young Boys are in the relegation zone of their domestic league with just one win in eight games and were thrashed at home by Aston Villa on their European debut this season.
It took Barcelona just eight minutes to move ahead, with Lewandowski applying a poacher’s finish to Raphinha’s cross-shot.
Jules Kounde hammered over and Ferran Torres had a shot saved as Barcelona dominated, but Young Boys carved out a first opening after 30 minutes when Ebrima Colley pulled an effort wide.
Raphinha, enjoying a strong start to the campaign, doubled Barcelona’s lead from close range after Pedri’s shot was blocked but the ball ricocheted to his feet.
Centre-back Martinez headed home Barca’s third from Pedri’s free-kick shortly afterwards as the Catalans overran their ragged visitors.
– Barca romp –
Torres wasted a fine chance for the fourth when he fired straight at Young Boys goalkeeper Marvin Keller when well placed to score.
Lewandowski netted his second with a close-range header after Martinez had nodded Lamine Yamal’s corner back across the face of goal as Barcelona began the second half just how they finished the first.
It was the 36-year-old’s ninth goal in 10 games this season as he enjoys a revival under his former Bayern Munich coach Flick.
Young Boys winger Joel Monteiro struck the crossbar but that was as close as the visitors came to joy in Catalonia.
Barcelona fans were pleased to see Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong come on as a substitute for his first appearance since an ankle injury in April as the game petered towards a close.
Mohamed Camara deflected Alejandro Balde’s cross into his own goal for Barcelona’s fifth in the 81st minute.
Home supporters chanted the name of former Barca midfield icon Andres Iniesta, after reports the Spanish 2010 World Cup winner will announce his retirement next week.
Monteiro had a late goal ruled out for off-side and Inaki Pena made a smart save at his near post late on, with Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny watching on from the presidential box.
Barcelona are poised to sign the former Juventus and Arsenal stopper to replace the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND ROUT CELTIC
Karim Adeyemi scored three goals in the first half as Borussia Dortmund handed Celtic a brutal Champions League reality check, winning 7-1 at home on Tuesday.
Celtic came into the match having won eight from eight in Scotland and Europe this season, but were blown off the park in Germany, Dortmund leading 5-1 at halftime.
Dortmund added two goals in the second half to equal their biggest ever win in the Champions League.
SCORES
Red Bull Salzburg 0-4 Brest
Stuttgart 1-1 Sparta Prague
Arsenal 2-0 Paris Saint-Germain
Barcelona 5-0 BSC Young Boys Bern
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 AC Milan
Borussia Dortmund 7-1 Celtic
Inter Milan 4-0 Crvena Zvezda
PSV Eindhoven 1-1 Sporting Lisbon
SK Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Manchester City
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