Paris Saint-Germain took a huge step towards their first UEFA Champions League final under Luis Enrique with a gritty 1-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium — and while Ousmane Dembélé provided the early spark, it was Gianluigi Donnarumma who ultimately proved decisive.
Dembélé stunned the home crowd just four minutes in, linking up with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before firing home a brilliant left-footed strike into the bottom corner. It was his 25th goal of the season and 11th Champions League goal involvement — only Karim Benzema has managed more in a UCL campaign among Frenchmen.
Yet, while Dembélé provided the moment of quality to separate the sides, it was Donnarumma who stood between PSG and an Arsenal comeback. The Italian shot-stopper made five crucial saves, the most by a PSG keeper without conceding in a Champions League knockout game since at least 2003-04.
Two of his saves were particularly game-defining: a superb stop to deny Gabriel Martinelli one-on-one just before half-time, and a sensational fingertip save to push Leandro Trossard’s curling effort around the post in the second half.
Though Arsenal enjoyed more possession after the opening 30 minutes, they struggled to convert that into clear-cut chances, with PSG’s disciplined defensive structure and Donnarumma’s heroics proving too much to breach.
With the second leg in Paris looming, PSG are in the driver’s seat — thanks to Dembélé’s clinical edge and Donnarumma’s iron wall between the posts.
