Mikel Arteta ‘apoplectic’ at injured Ousmane Dembele in Arsenal loss to PSG
Mikel Arteta was furious with PSG star Ousmane Dembele during the first leg of his Arsenal side’s Champions League semi final clash with the French champions.
The Gunners welcomed Luis Enrique’s side to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night (29 April) for the first leg of that last four tie.
Arsenal will have been looking to replicate their success against Real Madrid from the quarter finals, although things did not start well for them.
Dembele would put PSG ahead inside four minutes in North London, though it was another moment involving the Frenchman that angered Arteta far more.
Ousmane Dembele incident infuriates Mikel Arteta
Although Arsenal were lucky not to concede a penalty for Jurrien Timber’s challenge on Kvicha Khvaratskhelia, the Gunners were then able to attempt to push for an equaliser.
The home side could have had one from the spot themselves when Arsenal were wrongly denied a penalty for a challenge on Mikel Merino, Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider.
They were then kept out by some excellent saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG goal, while Dembele was able to inadvertently able to stop another Gunners move.
After the goalscorer picked up a knock, he was forced off with 20 minutes of the game remaining to be replaced by Bradley Barcola.
| Arsenal last five games | Result |
| Brentford (H) | Drew 1-1 |
| Real Madrid (A) | Won 2-1 |
| Ipswich (A) | Won 4-0 |
| Crystal Palace (H) | Drew 2-2 |
| PSG (H) | Lost 1-0 |
Prior to his substitution though, Dembele went to ground while he was still on the pitch with Arsenal in possession, prompting referee Slavko Vincic to stop the game so he could receive treatment.
That though did not go down well with Arteta who exploded towards the fourth official. As the incident unfolded, Amazon Prime Sport commentator Jon Champion noted (9:37pm):
“Mikel Arteta was apoplectic when he saw Dembele go down, I think it’s a time-wasting issue, but he’s made his feelings very clear to the fourth official”.
Arsenal right to be frustrated over PSG change
Football Insider Verdict
Arsenal surely do have a right to be frustrated by the fact that play was stopped at this point for Dembele to receive treatment.
The PSG star had not suffered a head injury, and so there ought to have been no reason for him to require such immediate treatment for a knock, even if he did ultimately have to be replaced.
Given Arteta’s side were under pressure to find an equaliser at that point as well, the game situation will also have added to their anger over what happened here.
Even so, this was a one-off incident within the context of the game, so they did have plenty of time to find an equaliser at other points.
Yet with the exception of a Merino header from a free kick that was ruled out by VAR just after the break, there were very few moments if any where they looked like scoring.
Indeed, PSG were arguably more likely to get a second goal, sending one huge chance wide and hitting the bar with another, so Arsenal will have to produce a much improved performance in the French capital next week if they are to reach the final.