A Kai Havertz header and a clever Bukayo Saka free-kick, which outfoxed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, secured Arsenal a composed victory over Paris Saint-Germain, extending their unbeaten run this season to nine matches.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action.
Mikel Arteta on his players producing an impressive win…
We can match them up against a team that raises the level, especially when one of the big teams come here, and still create a performance to beat them and deserve to win, it’s a good sign. We played one of the best teams in the world, they are super dominant in the league, they have so much quality, understanding and tactical options, and we dealt with it really well, with a lot of personality.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Luis Enrique on a below-par performance by PSG…
It’s always difficult to play away, especially against a team like Arsenal, but I think they deserved to win the match. They created more chances than us, pressed us high from the first minute and we couldn’t overcome it. We need to improve, learn from that and think about the next match. Today we were far away from the standards you need in this kind of match, especially in our duels. We lost almost every single duel. If you want to get something positive, you need to improve those phases of the game.
Source: Uefa.com
Arsenal (0.98) 2-0 (0.27) PSG
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) October 1, 2024
Captain Bukayo Saka on his pre-game team talk…
When I was speaking to the boys in the team talk before the game, I made sure I said ‘today we need to make a big statement.’ When we’ve played in Europe against the big teams, I don’t think we’ve shown our full quality and the full standards that we show. At home, we showed it today but we need to do that away and find a reason why [we’ve not done it so far].
Source: CBS Sports Golazo
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Kai Havertz on his goal…
I saw [Donnarumma], I think he was a bit too late and I just went for the ball. The most important thing is you attack the ball and that’s what I did. It was a good choice.
Source: Uefa.com
Players to score in six consecutive appearances in all competitions for #Arsenal at the Emirates stadium:
◎ Adebayor (6 in a row in 2007/08)
◎ RvP (7 in a row in 2011/12)
◎ Aubameyang (6 in a row in 2019)
◉ Havertz (ongoing run of 6)
— Harvey Downes (@HarveyDownes92) October 1, 2024
UEFA’s Technical Observer Panel on awarding Havertz the player of the match award…
He showed a lot of effort and clever movement, as well as a very good understanding with his fellow forwards. Havertz was clinical in the final third when his team needed him.
Source: Uefa.com
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Saka on how much practice goes into Arsenal’s set-piece routines…
It’s a lot of practice, I’ll tell you that. It’s a lot. It’s paying off. For us, it’s not really a coincidence that we’re scoring, we just want to continue scoring goals like this and even if it’s lucky, like today, we’ll take it. It was a delivery to the near post, hoping for someone to get a flick on. Also with these balls, it’s nice to hit them and if no one touches them, they go in, so that was really the strategy.
Source: CBS Sports Golazo
Arsenal 2-0 Paris Saint-Germain pic.twitter.com/ir9Ry8ovV5
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) October 1, 2024
Kai Havertz on Arsenal growing as a team…
We’re early in the season, but obviously when PSG come they’re a top team and a tough opponent. We wanted to win the game and I think we showed that we are ready for these kinds of matches. We’ve learned from last season, when we went out in the quarter-final. We’ve grown up as a team, everyone is a year older. So I think we are ready for all the coming challenges.
Source: Uefa.com
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Saka on whether Arsenal can win the title this year…
I don’t want to put too much pressure on but I do think this is the year. We’ve been close the last two years, we’re getting closer. This hopefully will be the year.
Source: CBS Sports Golazo
PSG had scored in their last 51 Champions League group stage matches before they met this Arsenal defence 🧱 pic.twitter.com/bPXoWLOGaW
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 1, 2024
Arteta on the decision to substitute Timber at half-time…
He was unbelievable in the first half,” Arteta said. “He felt something muscular and we didn’t want to take any risks. He has been out a year and played a lot of minutes. We have to manage him.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Saka on being captain…
There’s a lot of things I’ve done in my career, but wearing the armband, walking out with the team on a night like this and winning, it’s amazing, I can’t put it into words. It’s special.
Source: Amazon Prime
17 – Arsenal have kept 17 clean sheets in 32 games in all competitions in 2024, the most of any Premier League side. Indeed, across Europe’s big-five leagues this year, only Real Madrid have kept more (18). Elite. #UCL pic.twitter.com/umGpJ3L6qi
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 1, 2024
Arteta on Mikel Merino’s debut…
Really good, he joined us, first session ehe gets injured, he had only one session with us, he was ready, he was willing to be part of us today and obviously with the injuries and the changes we had to make we felt he was the player that could help us in that phase and I think he’s done really well.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Owen Hargreaves on Arsenal’s set-pieces…
It’s nice that you have a philosophy, but i think that Mikel is adapting really quick, he has his style of play and it’s really good but again, set-pieces, by far the best in the world at set-pieces. The coaching and detail that goes into that is amazing. Now they’re starting to play a little bit more direct, they are winning a game against a really good PSG team with 35% possession. I like the fact that Mikel doesn’t have one way of playing, he can beat you with other ways.
Source: TNT Sports
Bukayo Saka is the first player to score a direct free-kick for #Arsenal since Martin Ødegaard vs Burnley in September 2021. #AFC had gone 148 matches in all competitions without a DFK goal, failing to score with any of their previous 50 DFK attempts before Saka’s strike.
— Harvey Downes (@HarveyDownes92) October 1, 2024
Martin Keown on Arsenal’s defensive tactics…
The teams I played in we didn’t allow teams to come onto us as much, but they’ve found a way, edge of their own box, and it looks really watertight.
Source: TNT Sports
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Jamie Carragher on a statement win for Arsenal…
In terms of the name of the club [PSG] and the players they’ve had in the past, [yes], but when you’re looking at the team 11 v 11, it’s a good win, and credit to Arsenal for this, when Arsenal are at home against PSG, I think very few people think PSG go there and win. That’s not criticising PSG, that’s more giving, what do people say these days? Flowers. Arsenal you can have my flowers.
Source: CBS Sports Golazo
Bukayo Saka’s home record for Arsenal in the Champions League:
◎ 6 matches
◎ 5 goals
◎ 3 assistsMade for it. ✨#UCL pic.twitter.com/ih6PIqrM4x
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 1, 2024
Thierry Henry on Arsenal beating a side of PSG’s calibre…
It’s normal right now that Arsenal beats Paris Saint-Germain at home, especially that Paris Saint-Germain side. With no disrespect to Paris Saint-Germain. I want to win like that away from home, against Paris Saint-Germain or whoever else comes your way. Go to Inter and win strong.
Source: CBS Sports Golazo
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Mikel Arteta on when he’ll start looking at the Champions League table…
It’s too early. I think as well everyone has to play a lot of different and difficult games home and away, we have to adapt to that. We still don’t know how many points we need, the only thing you can focus on is the performance and try to win our own games, we did it tonight. Carry on doing it and now focus on the Premier League.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Clarence Seedorf on what Arsenal are missing…
What is that missing link to take that next step? Belief is one thing, but saying it is one thing and doing it is another. I believe, in the second-half, they went back too much, too early. Those are the type of things you cannot permit in the Champions League. Today PSG were not at their best but against another team you can suffer and they might score goals against you and the whole plan changes. But I believe they are a contender.
Source: Amazon Prime
Thanks for the win and fuck PSG. Disgusting oil atrocity club devoid of soul. May they never win shit outside France.
Agreed. They certainly don’t get my flowers.
I enjoyed the sour pusses of Campos and Al Khaleifi. Could’ve saved yourself the trip, fellas. It’s pretty funny watching them lose Mbappe for nothing and with him whatever cachet they had.
Direct free kick goal after ages! Bring it on!!
Two oil companies destroyed in 10 days
Thrilled with the win. I wasn’t surprised though. After keeping Tottenham out with a TP/Jorgi midfield and keeping City to 1 with 10 men at their place, this must have felt almost routine for the boys. Arteta knew they’d be lightweight and we punished that in the first half, then controlled the game out of possession in the second. Masterful on all levels. I want to point out though that this is what happens when you bring Kiwior on at LB: https://twitter.com/scottjwillis/status/1841221993150177581/photo/4 You instantly lose the ability to play through a press because you’re playing a man down in possession.… Read more »