Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has criticized Arsenal’s sluggish start in their UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat to PSG, offering a strategy for the Gunners to overcome the French champions in the return leg.
Arsenal’s performance in the first half of the match at the Emirates Stadium drew heavy criticism from Shearer. The match was barely three minutes old when PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé scored the opening goal, leaving Arsenal in a difficult position right from the start.
Shearer felt that Arsenal’s reaction to the early goal was lacking. “It was an incredible atmosphere at the Emirates, but it all changed when PSG scored so early. When you’re at home, and the crowd is behind you, you want to dominate possession and ideally score first to quieten the crowd. PSG did exactly that,” said Shearer. Arsenal, on the other hand, seemed rattled by the early setback, failing to recover for the next 20 to 30 minutes.
While Arsenal did improve after a poor start, Shearer noted that they still struggled to break down PSG’s defense. “They were better for 10 or 15 minutes before half-time, but they didn’t need a break they needed to start the game with more urgency,” he added. Despite some promising chances, including a one-on-one opportunity for Gabriel Martinelli and a second-half chance for Leandro Trossard, Arsenal were unable to find the back of the net and were ultimately defeated 1–0.
However, Shearer remains hopeful that Arsenal can mount a comeback in the second leg. “At 1–0 down, Arsenal still have a chance,” he said. “It’s going to be harder, but not impossible.” He pointed out that the Gunners will benefit from the return of midfielder Thomas Partey, who was suspended for the first leg due to yellow card accumulation. “Partey was sorely missed in the first leg. If he had been playing, Dembele might not have had as much time and space to score early. With Partey back, we’ll hopefully see a better Declan Rice.”
Rice struggled in the first leg while playing as the deep-lying midfielder, a role that limited his ability to push forward. Shearer believes that Rice performs best when he has the freedom to drive the team forward, as he did in Arsenal’s quarter-final triumph over Real Madrid. “Rice is much better when he’s allowed to break forward, and that’s when he created the chance for Trossard,” he noted. With Partey’s return, Rice will be able to play in a more advanced position, where he can make a more significant impact.
Shearer also emphasized that Arsenal will need to improve their pressing game to have a chance in Paris. “Their pressing in the first leg was not good. For the first half an hour, they didn’t know when to press or when to sit back, and it looked disorganized,” he said. If Arsenal is to stand any chance of overturning the deficit, they will need to sharpen their pressing and tactical discipline, especially in a hostile environment at the Parc des Princes.
With the right adjustments, Shearer believes Arsenal can still overturn the deficit in Paris and keep their Champions League dreams alive. The key, according to the former striker, will be for Arteta’s side to respond quickly to adversity, improve their pressing, and make the most of their attacking opportunities.
