Arsenal end Paris Saint-Germain’s incredible nine-year Champions League run as Gunners’ imperious defence thrives

Arsenal showed why they are arguably the best drilled team in Europe having ended Paris Saint-Germain’s epic nine-year Champions League run.

The Gunners eased to a 2-0 victory over their French opponents at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night thanks to first half goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.

It was another tactical masterclass from Arsenal in their win against PSGCredit: AFPAfter a dominant opening 45 minutes, Mikel Arteta’s men were happy for Les Parisiens to have more of the ball in the second period – knowing they could keep them out.

And they did that comfortably – ending PSG’s run of scoring in 51 consecutive Champions League group stage matches.

Their incredible run started in November 2015 with a 5-0 win over Malmo, with Luis Enrique’s men playing against Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in that time.

READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSBut they were no match for Arteta’s Premier League title challengers, who have now kept 17 clean sheets in 32 games in all competitions in 2024.

That’s the most of any English top-flight side, with only Real Madrid [18] boasting more across Europe’s top five leagues.

From Arsenal’s nine matches in all competitions this season, they have kept five clean sheets – and are yet to concede from their opening two Champions League fixtures.

Saka, who was once again Arsenal’s captain in the absence of Martin Odegaard, spoke about his side’s defensive resilience in his post-match interview with Amazon Prime.

Commenting on the squad’s newfound attitude of ‘win at all costs’, he said: “I see a lot of people speak about us and the way we play.

“But for us it’s about results, different games have different contexts and we have to do whatever it takes, and win in any context.

“Whether we can win on set pieces, whether we can win playing our beautiful football, whatever it takes, we just want to win.”

Arsenal kept another clean sheet on Tuesday night – their 17th in all competitions in 2024Credit: Getty

PSG’s nine-year run of scoring in 51 consecutive Champions League group stage games has come to an endCredit: GettySaka himself admitted he would prefer to be playing higher up the pitch throughout the match, but is more than happy to sacrifice his own attacking instinct to help out defensively in order to grind out a result.

He remarked: “Of course all attacking players, we’re all attacking minded, we want to go forward.

“But the manager has emphasised a lot about the other part of the game, I’m sure if you’re standing on the side you can hear him a lot when we’re out of possession!

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“But it does take a lot of sacrifice and discipline, because I’m going to be honest, I do want to be more forward, but it’s what the team requires.

“And when I see the results, we have a lot of clean sheets, so it’s paying off, and it encourages me to keep doing it.

“Me, Gabi [Gabriel Martinelli], and all the other players that play on the wing in this team.”

Arteta himself commented on Arsenal’s willingness to defend, as he stated: “The players do it and they don’t feel like it is nasty, they feel that it is their duty to the team.

“And they have started to love it. It is all about how you feel when you do something, if you really feel it you do it well, if not then you are just cheating.

Read More on talkSPORT”These guys don’t cheat, they run and track back every time. If you want to be a top team you better have eleven players that are capable of working.”

Next up for Arsenal is a clash with newly-promoted Southampton in north London, where they will be hoping for yet another clean sheet against a Saints side that have failed to score in three of their six league matches this term.