Arsenal 0 PSG 1

This defeat came as no surprise. Indeed Pargie had bet against an Arsenal win.

Arsenal had half a team absent – defender Gabriel; holding midfielders Jorginho and Party; and forwards Haivetz and Jesus – whilst PSG were at full strength.

I have been at the Emirates for crucial games and Arsenal tend to fall short at them. The accusation that they are brittle is fair.  They have no out-and-out striker too and central midfielder Martin Odergaard was largely ineffective. Although Alan Shearer, the chief Amazon analyst, was fulsome in praising PSG keeper Donnarumma he did not mention that twice he failed to gather crosses.

PSG  players reached their potential – particularly the Georgian winger Khavatskelia, Viterbo and Dembelé – but you could not say that of Saka nor Martinelli. Even Declan Rice was not as forceful as usual.

On Radio 5 they said that we are only halfway through the tie, but I give Arsenal little chance of qualification in what will be a febrile atmosphere at the Parc des Princes next Wednesday.