According to reports, Paris Saint-Germain secured a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals, taking an advantage ahead of the return leg in Paris next week. An early goal from Dembélé proved decisive in creating the gap between the two teams.

Arsenal started the match slowly and struggled to regain possession from PSG, particularly due to the absence of the suspended Thomas Partey in midfield. The defensive lapse led to the opening goal, where Dembélé capitalized on a well-timed pass from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and struck from the edge of the box, silencing the Emirates Stadium.

Analysts on Amazon Prime Video dissected the goal after the match, with Rooney, who had previously praised Rice’s performances, criticizing the midfielder this time. Rooney stated that Rice should have covered the space where Dembélé exploited the gap.

He said: “It was a great pass that broke the lines. Arsenal had enough time to recover. Rice made the wrong decision. He thought he was covering the space but left a dangerous gap for Dembélé. In the quarterfinals or semifinals, it’s these small details that decide wins or losses, and today Arsenal made too many mistakes.”