The numbers speak to who choose to play with the ball and they are merciless: 74% possession. 21 shots on goal (to seven). An expected goals count of 1.77 (to 0.44). Safonov, the PSG keeper, made zero saves because he only faced on shot on target. If there were figure skating, with gold medals awarded on points, there would be only one winner.
It's not that PSG were flawless, because they weren't. The early Arsenal goal and clogged middle saw them struggle for ideas and chances in the first half. But they adjusted. Desire Doue moved inside, a center forward sui generis and Ousmane Dembele moved wide finding space and creativity (until the muscular injury that forced him to limp off). Joao Neves dropped more often alongside Vitinha when Arsenal opted for the low block, nullifying the press and offering up another outlet. And the introduction of a fresh-as-a-daisy Bradley Barcola led to two gilt-edged transition chances against an exhausted William Saliba.
Beyond the substitutions, PSG simply looked more confident, more grown-up and more been there, done that. Because, well, they had just a year ago, in fact, when they beat Inter.
They weren't going to lose this game in terms of football, and they weren't going to lose it mentally. Only randomness and misfortune was going to beat them. And on Saturday night, at the Puskas Arena, those things took a night off. -- Gab Marcotti
The numbers speak to who choose to play with the ball and they are merciless: 74% possession. 21 shots on goal (to seven). An expected goals count of 1.77 (to 0.44). Safonov, the PSG keeper, made zero saves because he only faced on shot on target. If there were figure skating, with gold medals awarded on points, there would be only one winner.
It's not that PSG were flawless, because they weren't. The early Arsenal goal and clogged middle saw them struggle for ideas and chances in the first half. But they adjusted. Desire Doue moved inside, a center forward sui generis and Ousmane Dembele moved wide finding space and creativity (until the muscular injury that forced him to limp off). Joao Neves dropped more often alongside Vitinha when Arsenal opted for the low block, nullifying the press and offering up another outlet. And the introduction of a fresh-as-a-daisy Bradley Barcola led to two gilt-edged transition chances against an exhausted William Saliba.
Beyond the substitutions, PSG simply looked more confident, more grown-up and more been there, done that. Because, well, they had just a year ago, in fact, when they beat Inter.
They weren't going to lose this game in terms of football, and they weren't going to lose it mentally. Only randomness and misfortune was going to beat them. And on Saturday night, at the Puskas Arena, those things took a night off. -- Gab Marcotti
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