‘They were nervous…’ Paul Merson reveals what Arsenal players will be saying behind-the-scenes after PSG disappointment

Arsenal produced a disappointing performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Ousmane Dembele won PSG the game, slotting home neatly after just four minutes following great work from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The French side dominated the opening exchanges, although Arsenal recovered from this tricky period and put together a cromulent display for much of the rest of the game.

However, Mikel Arteta’s team ultimately lacked the offensive firepower to breach Luis Enrique’s team’s resolute defence, and the North Londoners now have a mountain to climb in the second leg in Paris.

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Paul Merson says Arsenal players will be regretting what they produced against PSG

Thierry Henry revealed his belief that PSG were far superior to Arsenal on the night, but ultimately, after a tough first 25 minutes, the Gunners were perfectly competitive against an excellent team.

Arteta evidently made some tactical switches that helped his team evade PSG’s high press, and they should be optimistic that they can replicate that moving forward.

However, at the highest level, not being on your game for such a short period can cost you, and it did cost Arsenal in this game.

Speaking to Sky Sports, former Gunners player Paul Merson claimed that the Arsenal players will be extremely frustrated at what they produced on such a big night.

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“I just think the players were nervous,” the pundit said.

“It was a big football match. It’s a semi-final of the Champions League. These players haven’t been in a semi-final before. They’re not seasoned pros in it. It doesn’t matter how much money you earn, you’re going to get nervous.

“I just thought they were nervous. PSG came out, got that early goal and they had them on the rack.

“It was like Arsenal were sort of scared, and I thought they thought, ‘If we let in another goal here, we’re out of the cup tie already. We’re literally out of the cup tie’.

“I know that didn’t happen in the other semi-final with Inter Milan because they went 2-0 up against Barcelona. Barcelona play a different way to Arsenal.

“Arsenal got back into the game steadily, but they’ll be disappointed. There are certain games you get in your life, and you think, ‘I could have probably done more in that game’.

“And I think there are a lot of players that would have sat in the dressing room after that game or gone home and gone to bed and thought, ‘I didn’t really turn up’.

“It happens. You just hope it doesn’t happen on the big stage in the big games, and it did on Tuesday night.”

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What Paul Merson said about Martin Odegaard vs PSG

Martin Odegaard was poor against PSG, and the Norwegian’s final third impotence was a certainly a contributing factor to Arsenal’s offensive failings.

The midfielder created one chances, completed one dribble and had no shots in what was a dreadful display in possession.

Speaking about Odegaard, Merson said that the Gunners really need the player at his best for the team to be at their best.

“Martin Odegaard will have to turn up. I’m a big fan of Odegaard, but he didn’t perform the other night.

“But they’ve got another chance. They should have been completely blown out of this competition the other night. They had chances, PSG.”

On the second leg, the former forward said: “I think it’s down to the first goal. I think if Arsenal score the first goal, that wipes out Tuesday’s performance and it’s game on. But I think if Paris Saint-Germain score first, then I can’t see any way back.

“I know people will say, ‘Well, Villa went 4-1 down’, but Villa were at home. They had nothing to lose. They had a right go, scored two goals in three minutes and they got back in the game.”

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