HALF-TIME BELE... BUT NOT OVER

Arsenal fall flat on their big night as slick PSG take big step towards final

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BY JOHN CROSS THE stage was set for a big European night but it was Paris Saint-Germain who stole the show.

Outclassed, outmanoeuvred and outfought, this was a bad night for Mikel Arteta when Arsenal's Champions League ambitions were put into stark perspective.

Only when Arsenal mixed it with some good, old fashioned blood and thunder did they give themselves a fighting chance but PSG dished out a proper schooling at times.

Arsenal looked overwhelmed by the occasion and were miles off the team which blew Real Madrid away in the last round.

The saving grace for Arsenal boss Arteta was that, despite being second best, they are still in the tie ahead of the return leg in the Parc des Princes next Wednesday. And they can count themselves lucky because PSG, who have already knocked out Liverpool and Aston Villa, were simply too good, too slick and too polished at the Emirates.