Arsenal’s Champions League dream took a significant hit on home soil. In the first leg of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League semi-final, the Gunners welcomed Paris Saint-Germain to the Emirates, only to walk away with a frustrating 0-1 defeat, and a mountain to climb in the return leg.
It was a familiar story for Arsenal fans. The team started with purpose and energy, taking control of possession and setting the tempo early. They looked up for the fight, pushing high and keeping PSG pinned for long stretches. But for all their control, the final ball was missing. Crosses came and went, passing moves built up and fizzled out. And standing tall in PSG’s goal was Gianluigi Donnarumma, who shut the door time and again with a world-class performance.
PSG didn’t need to dominate. They just needed one moment, and they took it. A swift, clinical move sliced through Arsenal’s backline and gave them the only goal of the night. It was a textbook example of what separates good teams from great ones at this stage in Europe.
Ødegaard: “It Hurts, But We Must Learn”
After the match, Martin Ødegaard didn’t hide his disappointment. “We gave everything, but it wasn’t enough,” he told TNT Sports. The captain was honest about where things went wrong: “What happens in the boxes decides these games. We weren’t sharp enough.”
Ødegaard acknowledged that the team played with the right mentality but lacked the execution that wins at this level. “We have to stay strong, stay together, and learn from this,” he added. But for Ødegaard himself, it was a night he’d probably like to forget.
Skelly Impresses, Ødegaard Under Fire
If there was one bright spot in red and white, it was youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly. Calm on the ball, clever under pressure, and always looking to move the game forward, he was one of the few Arsenal players who looked like he belonged on this stage. His sharp turns, clean passes, and confidence stood out and didn’t go unnoticed in the post-match ratings.
In contrast, Ødegaard struggled. The skipper just wasn’t at the races. In one key moment, Skelly slipped a perfectly weighted pass through PSG’s lines but Ødegaard, unmarked and on the move, lost his footing and saw the opportunity vanish. That slip seemed to sum up his night: slightly off the pace, slightly out of sync, and ultimately, ineffective.
The criticism has been growing. Ødegaard’s creative spark, so often Arsenal’s engine, has flickered in the big games. And with no goals, no real chances created, and no defining moment from their captain, fans are starting to ask the tough questions. Is Arsenal too dependent on him? And if so, do they need someone else who can step up when it really matters?
The Trophy Drought Continues: Can Arsenal Fix Their Flaws in Time?
It’s become a frustrating pattern. Arsenal have built a reputation for consistency and beautiful football. But when the pressure ramps up in title deciders, cup knockouts, and now, Champions League semi-finals, they just can’t seem to find that killer edge.
Analysts point to key gaps: no reliable central striker, and no left-wing threat to balance out Bukayo Saka on the right. Saka remains Arsenal’s talisman, but without help, opponents know exactly where to focus their defence.
And then there’s the transfer talk. Manager Mikel Arteta has been praised for building a youthful, hungry squad — but his reluctance to strengthen in January and his continued trust in players like Kai Havertz are starting to raise eyebrows. The question is simple: has this project hit a ceiling?
On the other side, PSG’s moves in the winter window paid off. Luis Enrique’s team looked sharper, smarter, and more adaptable. Their manager outmaneuvered Arteta on the night, and his players executed with ruthless efficiency.
The season isn’t over. Arsenal are still fighting on multiple fronts, and the second leg in Paris offers a chance at redemption. But if they want to break free from the “almost there” label, something has to change and fast.
As Ødegaard said, “We must turn this pain into something positive.” That’s the right mindset. But for Arsenal, words need to become action on the pitch, in the transfer market, and in those big, defining moments where trophies are won or lost.
