UEFA could change rule that left Arsenal at a huge disadvantage against PSG

The Parc des Princes was a cauldron on Wednesday night (Picture: Shutterstock)

UEFA are considering making a change to the Champions League next season to guarantee there is no repeat of the scenario that left Arsenal at a major disadvantage in their semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.

Mikel Arteta’s side were left with a mountain to climb last night at Parc des Princes as they looked to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

The optimism and feel-good factor that engulfed N5 last Tuesday was extinguished within three minutes after Ousmane Dembele scored what proved to be the only goal of the evening.

PSG were overwhelming favourites to reach the final and needed only a draw on home soil to book a place in Munich and a showdown against Inter.

As it transpired, Luis Enrique’s men ran out deserving 2-1 winners on the night, although they owed a huge debt of gratitude to Gianluigi Donnarumma who made a string of saves to preserve his side’s lead.

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Other than feeling aggrieved at having run into a goalkeeper who is in the form of his life, Arsenal could be forgiven for feeling a measure of frustration at having been forced to play the second leg away from home.

The Parc des Princes was at its hostile, raucous, atmospheric best last night as the home fans roared their team to victory and a date with destiny at the Allianz Arena.

Achraf Hakimi scored the goal that put the tie beyond doubt (Picture: Getty)

Having finished a distant six points clear and 12 places ahead of their opponents in the group standings, many Arsenal fans were left wondering what benefit they gained from their impressive performances during the earlier in the competition, which included a 2-0 home win over PSG.

Arsenal were seeded for the knockout stages, but UEFA opted for an open draw which ultimately meant the Gunners were on the road for the quarter finals as well as last night.

According to The I, Uefa officials have had talks and are consideirng making a major change for next season.

Under the potentially revised rules, a seeded team would be guaranteed a second-leg tie at home, until they meet another seed, at which point the team that finished higher in the league would play at home in the second leg.

Bukayo Saka’s late goal briefly gave Arsenal hope (Picture: Getty)

Gianluigi Donnarumma was PSG’s hero over the two legs (Picture: Shutterstoc)

Whether home advantage last night would have proved decisive will remain a matter of conjecture as Arsenal are again left to lick their wounds and consider what might have been.

A fifth consecutive season without a major trophy is the grim reality for Arteta, who remains adamant his side have progressed and exceeded expectations over the course of a season that has tested his threadbare squad to the limits.

‘This squad, two years ago, nobody believed that we could even probably qualify for the Champions League, not even think that we could finish second or compete in the league,’ he said.

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal will end the season trophyless again (Picture: Pierre Stevenin/ZUMA Press Wire)

‘Or have the amount of points that we had that in any other year you are a champion. Or have the run and the results and the performances that we had in the Champions League.

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‘But the reality at the end is that you need something to lose, and that trophy with all the work that we do, and disappointment is that it’s not going to happen.’

He added: ‘I feel proud. Yes, probably the way we expected it. Yes, probably in the condition that we are, it’s very unlikely to happen.

‘But it was there to happen again, and we made it very, very close to happening. So it’s just finding those reasons that actually didn’t.

‘Instead of the things that we don’t have, with the things that we have, what we can actually do more to [make it] happen.’

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