60-touch Arsenal star who ‘bamboozled’ PSG almost brought Mikel Arteta his Champions League dream

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Arsenal’s Champions League dream was ended in Paris as the Gunners fell to a 2-1 defeat.

Mikel Arteta’s side began the game with a host of chances as Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice went close with efforts before PSG’s Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring.

Arteta claimed Donnarumma was the difference in the tie as he made a number of outstanding stops, one in particular from Martin Odegaard’s sweet strike stunned the Parc Des Princes.

Fans were stunned by the referee as VAR gave PSG a controversial penalty in which David Raya saved in vain as Achraf Hakimi settled any doubt before Bukayo Saka’s consolation.

Obvious disappointment surrounded the manager and his players but the performance was one the club could be proud of and one Arsenal star in particular had PSG rocking.

READ MORE: What France’s media honestly felt about Myles Lewis-Skelly after his struggles vs PSG in the Champions League

Mikel Arteta’s Jurrien Timber plan v PSG almost worked

Arteta showed his ability and intelligence as a coach during the clash with PSG as a surprise was sprung on the French champions in the opening exchanges.

Saka was marked out of the game in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium and often had two or even three PSG defenders surrounding him.

Jurrien Timber was deployed in an unusual attacking position when Arsenal had the ball, in an inside right channel, meaning that Nuno Mendes had to mark the Dutchman and leave Saka unattended.

The Gunners worked several openings in the first half using the tactic and TNT Sports commentator described Timber’s positioning as having ‘bamboozled’ Luis Enrique’s side.

Unfortunately for Arteta and his side, they were unable to convert any of the chances created and ultimately succumbed in the tie.

Jurrien Timber match statistics v PSG

In his first full season with the club following a major knee injury in his debut campaign, Timber has been nothing short of sensational and proved once again against PSG that he is one of the world’s best.

Up against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the Gunners star did not put a foot wrong and made the Georgian winger spend most of the game chasing back towards his own goal.

Timber revealed his family support Arsenal and if he can continue to show the level of consistency that he has this season, his popularity among fans will reach new heights.

He has now had a full season under his belt in English football and there is no doubt that the Dutch star will continue to go from strength to strength under Arteta.