FRENCH TEST STUMPS GUNNERS

PSG produce masterclass as noisy Emirates falls flat

- By John Cross

THE stage was set for a big European night at the Emirates 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 the Gunners 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 eight.

The saving grace for manager Arteta was that, despite being second best, they are still in the tie ahead of the return leg at 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.