‘Enormous’: Mikel Arteta praises Declan Rice & Mikel Merino after Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat vs PSG in Champions League
Arsenal suffered a 1-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.
The Gunners were outrun and outclassed in the opening 20 minutes and were fortunate to avoid conceding more than one goal.
In his post-match press conference, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that he made a tactical tweak after 20 minutes, which paid dividends in the end.
Arsenal did not concede another goal after Ousmane Dembele’s fourth-minute strike. They should have scored a couple of goals themselves.
Speaking after the game, Arteta was asked whether the club missed the presence of midfielder Thomas Partey, who served a suspension.
The Spanish tactician said that Declan Rice and Mikel Merino were ‘enormous’ against Les Parisiens but acknowledged that Partey gives the club more ‘flexibility’.
He told Amazon Prime (via BBC Sport): “I think Declan [Rice] and Mikel [Merino] were enormous.
“He gives options [on Partey] and a different threat. It gives us flexibility to change the game.
“It’s half-time and we have a big chance to be in the final.”
Rice started from the number six position for the Gunners, with Merino operating in a central midfield role.
The duo had a rough start to the game and one of them should have closed down Dembele for the opening goal.
Rice tried to double up on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia alongside Jurrien Timber.
Merino and Martin Odegaard were spotted ball-watching as Dembele was handed a free shot on goal.
Rice and Merino gained more control in midfield as the game progressed. The duo won a combined 16 duels against PSG.
The former made a superb run to create a big chance for Leandro Trossard, but he could not beat Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Despite PSG’s early dominance, the tie is firmly in the balance at 1-0. The Gunners will face PSG at Parc des Princes in the second leg in seven days’ time.
Partey will be available again for selection. The Ghanaian is expected to start in holding midfield with Rice moving centrally where he has been superb lately.
Merino should start as the makeshift striker ahead of Leandro Trossard, who lost 75 percent duels and squandered possession on 14 occasions yesterday.
Stats from Sofascore.com
