Arsenal need something special in Paris says hopeful Arteta

LONDON – Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to produce a “special” fightback against Paris Saint-Germain, after Ousmane Dembele fired the French side to a 1-0 win in the Champions League semi-final, first leg on April 29.

The forward struck early in the fourth minute at the Emirates Stadium and the Gunners were unable to haul themselves level in a tense clash featuring key misses from both teams.

PSG wasted two golden opportunities to take firm control of the tie in the closing stages, as striker Goncalo Ramos hit the bar and forward Bradley Barcola shot wide from close range.

Arsenal also had their moments after a slow start, with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making two superb saves to deny forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

In contrast to the previous two rounds, when Arsenal established substantial first-leg leads en route to knocking out PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid, Arteta’s men will have to do it the hard way this time.

They head to Paris for the second leg on May 7 knowing an epic performance is required to book a place in their first Champions League final since 2006 when they lost to Barcelona.

“We are at half-time, and my message is exactly the same as it was after we beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of the quarter-final. We have to go to Paris and win the game, and we are more than capable of doing it,” Arteta said.

“If you want to win the Champions League final, you have to do something special, and we are going to have to do something special in Paris to be there. We still have a lot of chances to be in that final.”

In the first half, Arsenal were in danger of becoming the latest English team to be