Two blunders from Gianluigi Donnarumma, a defensive sector often undermined, an overwhelmed midfielder, a non-existent attack and questionable choices… Tuesday evening, for its first big test of the season, Paris Saint-Germain fell from a height. Traveling on the Arsenal pitch, Luis Enrique’s men, quickly trailing behind, never really gave a reply to Mikel Arteta’s flock despite a certain reaction upon returning from the locker room. Punished by two goals from Kai Havertz (20th) and Bukayo Saka (35th), the Parisians logically finally conceded their first setback of the season.
A defeat which did not fail to provoke a reaction from the English press… The Mirror thus underlined the superiority of the Gunners, believing that the London team had “easily imposed”. An observation also shared by The Daily Mail describing a shock “which was not very tight” and premises “way too comfortable Tuesday evening”. The Telegraph for his part, added that the club from the French capital “never managed to do much harm to a well-established Arsenal team”. While Arsenal now occupies 8th place in the ranking – PSG finds itself in 18th place – the main English media and tabloids have had a field day.
English media highlight difference in identity
“There was a time when a small group of clubs blessed with the wealth of Paris Saint-Germain threatened to leave behind an old piece of heritage like Arsenal, but tonight the scale of Mikel Arteta’s rebuilding of the club became apparent clearly again”particularly welcomed The Telegraphspecifying that “it is no longer the PSG of Kylian Mbappé nor even that of Lionel Messi or Neymar”. Sky Sport for his part noted the Parisian youth, not to say the inexperience using the terms of “young team” and of “new look training”.
In the fight with Manchester City for several months to afford a new Premier League in its history (13 currently), Arsenal is now starting to dream of a bright future on the European scene. Celebrated across the Channel, this victory proves in any case that the Gunners are, today, one of the main outsiders in this competition. A reconstruction which would have, according to The Suntriumphed over the pride of Qatar. British media adding that Mikel Arteta’s men have proven “their ability to compete with oil-rich clubs”. England celebrates as it should…
