Arteta highlights squad issues after PSG edge Arsenal at Emirates | OneFootball

Why Arsenal Fell Short: Arteta Points to Injuries as PSG Seize the Advantage

Mikel Arteta didn’t mask his frustration as he tried to explain why his side, so often fluent and fierce, fell to a 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final first leg.

The Gunners were missing seven senior players through injury and suspension. Gabriel Magalhães, Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus watched from the sidelines, while Thomas Partey was ruled out through suspension. The difference, according to Arteta, was not tactical nuance or Parisian brilliance – though there was some of that – but rather availability.

“It’s clear [why PSG were better]. They’re very consistent. They go to the end of the of the season in April with all the players and the squad available at their best. And when you get to April, it’s very important to have this,” Arteta said.

Margins Fine, Moments Decisive

The evening was one of fine details and frustrating near-misses. Arteta acknowledged PSG’s early control and their ability to bypass Arsenal’s press – not through brute force, but with sequences of clean, quick passes. It was that rhythm that ultimately pulled the Gunners out of shape and allowed Ousmane Dembélé to pounce.

“Today, the margins were very small,” Arteta told CBS Sports. “I think they started the game better for two reasons. The first one, because they get out of our press after a lot of passes and sequences. Then the individual quality decided the first goal after we have some issues, especially what we did after regaining the ball, which against them is a key moment as well.”

Still, Arsenal had their chances – two clear one-on-ones squandered, and in Europe, those are fatal mistakes.

“At this level, the keepers and the boxes made the difference, and he certainly did tonight,” Arteta said, pointing to the heroics of PSG’s goalkeeper, who preserved the lead with conviction.

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Arteta’s Evolution Continues Amid Adversity

This wasn’t the collapse of a philosophy, but the disruption of one. Arteta has crafted a side defined by structure and control, but when the spine is removed, the shell struggles to protect what’s inside. The Spaniard has spent the season preaching adaptability, yet on this night, even his mid-game tweaks couldn’t overcome the absence of rhythm and personnel.

Despite the setback, Arsenal remain alive in the tie. A single goal separates the sides, and with a fit squad and a better start in Paris, this team still has the tools to respond.

Fitness and Depth Crucial in Champions League Pursuit

As Arsenal head to the French capital, the story becomes less about formations and more about bodies. Modern football has become as much a contest of health as of tactics, and Arteta knows it. Champions League campaigns are not won in April with patched-up teams; they are won with depth, timing, and, above all, luck.