UCL: Les Parisiens takes first leg advantage at Emirates

Paris Saint-Germain emerged victorious in the first-leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal against Arsenal.

The Ligue 1 champions won 1-0 at the Emirates, courtesy of Ousmane Dembele’s early strike in the first half.

The Frenchman capped a 26-pass move to stun the Emirates Stadium into silence in the fourth minute.

The French side also had goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to thank, as his good form helped secured the first-leg win.

PSG wasted no time in going ahead, as they Khvicha Kvaratskhelia paced down the left before laying off to Dembele, who sent a left-footed strike off the far post, into the net.

Luis Enrique’s side almost made it two, as Desire Doue’s reverse shot was superbly parried by David Raya.

Kvaratskhelia almost won his side a penalty as he tried driving his way past three white and red shirts. The Georgian was stopped by Jurrien Timber’s stretched arm, but the referee waved it away.

Arsenal grew into the contest in the final 15 minutes of the first half, and were unlucky not to equalise. Gabriel Martinelli was faced one-on-one with Donnarumma but his low curled effort could not beat the Italian shot-stopper.

Coming into the second-half, Mikel Arteta’s side thought to have equalised two minutes into the game, when Mikel Merino nodded Declan Rice’s free-kick home. However, the goal was chalked off for offside, after a VAR check.

Leandro Trossard was then denied by Donnarumma after darting into the left channel. The Italian also denied Bukola Saka to maintain the lead for his side.

With the game close to the end of regular time, Dembele was replaced by Goncalo Ramos, as the Frenchman signalled to be removed for a suspected injury.

The substitute, Ramos, almost doubled the lead in the 85th minute as he rattled the crossbar, despite beating Raya.

Paris Saint-Germain eventually settled for a one-goal lead, as they place a foot into the the tournament showpiece

The French giants will be hoping to defend or extend their lead, when they welcome the Gunners at Parc des Princes next week for the second-leg.