Arsenal midfielder insists “we can’t wait to go to Paris” after narrow PSG defeat | OneFootball

A disallowed header and an early goal frame Arsenal’s narrow defeat, but Mikel Merino believes the second leg in Paris could be defined by the smallest of margins.

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Mikel Merino has seen enough in Arsenal’s narrow first-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain to believe the tie remains firmly in the balance. Despite falling to a 1-0 defeat at the Emirates courtesy of an early strike from Ousmane Dembélé, the Spanish midfielder insists the Gunners are relishing the opportunity to put things right in Paris.

“This is elite football, and a few centimetres can determine your future,” Merino said when talking about his disallowed goal. “So, hopefully in the second leg, those 10 centimetres can go to our side.”

The midfielder thought he had drawn Arsenal level shortly after half-time, rising to head home a Declan Rice free-kick, only for VAR to intervene and rule him narrowly offside after a lengthy check.

It was a defining moment in a game where Gianluigi Donnarumma also denied clear chances for Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, and where fine margins left Mikel Arteta’s side with nothing to show for a determined response to their early setback.

Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

“It was tough,” Merino reflected. “Every minute counts, and in the first 10-15 minutes maybe we didn’t perform at the level we are used to, but I think the team recovered really well from the goal. We showed a lot of character and personality, and we almost dominated the rest of the game.”

PSG’s blistering start caught Arsenal cold, with Dembele’s opener inside four minutes puncturing a raucous home atmosphere. Yet, as the half wore on, the Gunners began to assert control, limiting PSG’s rhythm and carving out significant chances.

“We know we have a really good team, a powerful team, and we are really confident that we’re going to win the second leg,” Merino said. “I think people are optimistic. We know that what we showed today is just the beginning of what we are, and obviously really confident, really full of power for the second leg.”

Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

Arsenal’s campaign has already seen them eliminate Real Madrid with a ruthless performance at home and at the Bernabéu, and Merino believes the team’s growth through the season will serve them well in the return leg at the Parc des Princes.

“I think what we’ll learn is that we are able to dominate any team, anywhere,” he said. “This is a team that really wants to be the ball the whole time, really wants to keep you in your box. Today we proved that we can play against anyone and be the main team on the pitch. Today showed us that we are really capable of performing anywhere. We can’t wait to go to Paris.”

Arteta echoed that confidence post-match, insisting the tie was far from over. For Merino, the disappointment of a disallowed goal has only sharpened his focus. The margin may have been centimetres, but his ambition for the second leg is measured in something far greater.