Mikel Arteta significantly influenced the key moments in Arsenal’s Champions League match against PSG.
In their opening game of the new Champions League season, Arsenal secured a 2-0 victory over PSG, one of their toughest competitors. Arteta will be pleased with his team’s performance against such a strong side.
Kai Havertz opened the scoring with a fantastic goal that went past Gianluigi Donnarumma into the bottom left corner. Bukayo Saka added a second with a direct free kick that eluded everyone, including the Italian goalkeeper.
While it was a bright European night filled with photos and videos from Amazon Prime, visuals can’t capture everything. Fortunately, football tells its own story. Fans from London were present in the stadium, representing those who missed out at the Emirates Stadium.
Experiencing an away game in Europe always carries a different vibe compared to a home match. More than 45 minutes before kickoff, the PSG fan area was already buzzing. It seems we enjoy our pies and pints more than fans elsewhere.
The chant of “Allez” filled the stadium, and the southeast section put on an impressive display. As fans approached the stadium, they could hear the French supporters singing along Holloway Road, jumping and cheering to the familiar tune.
**Calafiori’s Versatility**
Riccardo Calafiori has surprised Arsenal fans with his performances, especially his remarkable goal against Manchester City and his unique defensive style. This was evident against PSG, where his positioning was intriguing.
He played as a left back at times, shifted to central midfield, and then was spotted in the right attacking midfield position during the first half. Mikel Arteta was seen signaling “calm” to his bench, while Thomas Partey pointed to the left, possibly questioning Calafiori’s positioning.
Interestingly, he later moved to right back after Jurrien Timber’s departure, performing well and perhaps benefiting from his earlier positioning.
**Arteta’s Expectations for Saka**
Despite leading by two goals, Mikel Arteta maintains high standards for his players. He firmly believes in giving maximum effort, and Bukayo Saka felt the heat.
Just before halftime, PSG launched a counter-attack down the left after an Arsenal play broke down. Achraf Hakimi sped down the left side, and Saka’s absence was notable, which didn’t sit well with Arteta. From the stands, the manager’s frustration with his captain was clearly audible.