Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal have failed to win nine Premier League games where they have led so far this season, more than in the previous two campaigns combined (four in 2022-23, four in 2023-24).
They have never failed to win 10 games from winning positions in a single season before.
Guess the current Arsenal player from these three clues:
I represented my country at Euro 2024 and reached the semi-final stage.
I played every minute of every Premier League game for Arsenal during the 2023-24 season.
I scored a goal in the 2-0 win against Manchester United in December.
Come back to this page at 17:00 BST for the answer
Arsenal could face a battle with Paris St-Germain to sign Roma's 25-year-old Ivory Coast defender Evan Ndicka, who is valued between £25-34m. (Mirror, external)
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Is Mikel Arteta's energy harming Arsenal?
Rory Smith, Julien Laurens and Stephen Warnock discuss how his "remonstrating and demonstrations" may have "set the tone" for the Gunners' "nervous" first-half performance against Paris Saint-Germain.
And if you want to remind yourself of the action on Tuesday, the highlights are below.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your views on Thomas Partey's absence in Arsenal's 1-0 defeat by Paris St-Germain and how important his return could be in the second leg.
Here are some of your comments:
Kwame: A big miss. No wonder Declan Rice was so furious when the yellow card incident occurred. He knew.
Guy R: I think Partey is important to how Arsenal play. Missing any of your starting XI is bound to have an impact. He provides stability to the midfield and allows Rice and Martin Odegaard more freedom. Lots of speculation of him going with Martin Zubimendi being bought in and I think that would be a good move for Arsenal.
Ed: Not sure those stats tell the whole picture, not least because the stats including Partey will include games with him playing at right-back, when we are usually terrible! Also suspect that Partey has missed more 'smaller' games. And finally, he has really stepped up this season so stats might be different for this season alone? The problem was that previously when we haven't had Partey, Jorginho has been a great deputy. He is a different style of player but he has done the job well whereas last night, we also had to move Rice and Merino, which completely disrupted our rhythm and balance.
Robin: Partey was a huge miss; however, we are still in the tie. Odegaard was poor albeit he can make the difference in Paris if he's on his A game.
Guy F: I don't think those stats give the full context. Partey is much more important right now as Merino looks like the best option up top and because Jorge is out too. The Rice/Odegaard/Merino midfield doesn't seem to gel properly, with all three preferring to play higher up the pitch. On top of that, Merino looks better at centre-forward than Leandro Trossard right now, so losing Partey means our attack is even weaker. Partey may have worse looking stats because he's been fit all this season when Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus have all been out, and the attack has struggled even more than usual.
Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport Senior Journalist
Nineteen years waiting for a Champions League semi-final and Arsenal were still caught cold.
The stats bear it out. For the first 20 minutes of their game against Paris St-Germain, Mikel Arteta's side were off the pace and unable to rise to the occasion.
After that? It was a different story - far more progressive, attacking and accurate.
But was it too late? Ousmane Dembele's goal in that opening spell ultimately decided the first leg and left the Gunners with a mountain to scale at the Parc des Princes next Wednesday.
With criticism of the club's pre-match Tifo rumbling on, Arteta will hope his players will respond to the raucous scenes in Paris as they did in Madrid for the quarter-final, standing firm before pushing back to win in style.
Victory in the French capital is the minimum requirement if they are to reach the Champions League final.
Starting hot will be the first step.
Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist
"A big miss", "an anchor" and "crucial".
That has been just some of the reaction from pundits, former players and reporters on the impact of Thomas Partey's absence in Arsenal's 1-0 semi-final, first leg defeat at home by Paris St-Germain on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old missed the match having picked up a cheap yellow card late on against Real Madrid in the last round that took him to three for this season's competition and a one-game suspension.
With fellow midfielder Jorginho out through injury and Mikel Merino having been used as a forward in recent weeks, it meant a reshuffle of players and positions for boss Mikel Arteta.
The effect of that was evident, with PSG controlling midfield while Declan Rice was forced to sit deeper, and Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka struggling to have the impact in attack that they are capable of.
Barring any fitness issues, Partey should return to the line-up for the return leg in Paris next Wednesday.
However, despite Tuesday night's difficulties, how much do the Gunners miss Partey when he is not in the team?
The statistics suggest it may not be as much those watching perceive.
According to Opta, across all competitions over the past two seasons, Arsenal have played 50 matches with Partey starting and 55 without.
With 31 and 33 wins respectively, the win percentage with and without is very similar, with the figures slightly favouring him starting at 62% compared to 60%.
However, when looking at numbers for goals scored and conceded, the average is ever so slightly higher for times they hit the back of the net when he does not start, at 2.2, compared to times he does (two). And, similarly, they average letting fewer goals in (0.8) without him than with him (0.9).
The side also tend to average more shots without him starting (15.9 without vs 14.2 with per game) and shots faced at 10 when starting and 8.4 when on the bench.
While the stats might show little difference whether the Gunners start with or without Partey, what can be harder to quantify is what a player like the Ghana international brings in experience in big games and balance to the side.
So, how do you feel about Partey's absence? Was he the missing cog or were the issues bigger than the one player? How important will his return be for the second leg? Will he be the catalyst for a memorable comeback?
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal were missing "solidity" and "organisation" against Paris St-Germain, says former defender Johan Djourou.
With the likes of Thomas Partey and Jorginho missing on Tuesday, the Gunners struggled to take charge in the centre of the pitch against a PSG midfield of Joao Neves, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz.
Djourou was part of the Arsenal side that last played in a Champions League semi-final in 2009 and, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "With Champions League semi-finals, the details are so important.
"PSG started so well and their constant movement surprised Arsenal, even though we knew [about it] because the goal they scored was in a similar way to the goals they scored at Anfield.
"We are missing solidity in the middle of the park. There was too much space between the lines and they [PSG] made it difficult. PSG showed their intensity in that first half and we were just missing that fluidity.
"[Partey's return] will be massive. We know how important Partey has been. I think people don't always realise how much of an anchor and important player he is in his leadership. We have missed him and it will be important to have him.
"You could see yesterday with all their movement from deep and [Ousmane] Dembele getting the ball in midfield, we got attracted to the ball and followed the players and we were missing a bit of that organisation.
"A player like Thomas Partey would also be important to release players like Martin Odegaard – who was a bit low in form against PSG – and Declan Rice to give him freedom. So Partey will be a great comeback and great asset for the second leg."
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal lacked "balance" without midfielder Thomas Partey in the side against Paris St-Germain, says former Gunners defender Matt Upson.
Partey picked up his third yellow card of this season's Champions League in the previous match against Real Madrid and was suspended for the first leg of the semi-final.
Also shorn of the injured Jorginho, Arsenal struggled for control in a 1-0 defeat by the Ligue 1 champions.
"You can look at Thomas Partey not being there as a reason why Saka was not getting the ball," Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"I don't want to go too deeply into why Partey is so important to them but, it was just more the balance. Playing with a different kind of feel and balance can disrupt the way you feed key players."
French football expert Julien Laurens agreed and said Partey's absence had an impact on the rest of the midfield.
"For [Declan] Rice to play in that position, he doesn't have the same pairings, doesn't have the same relationship with players around him," Laurens said.
"I thought it was a big miss. But, there is not much in it, there is still a lot to play for in that second leg in Paris, even with that slight advantage for the Parisians."
Chief football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live John Murray added: "We mention Partey being suspended but it was a setback for Arsenal not to have Jorginho. I'm sure [Mikel] Arteta would have loved to have had just one of them out there .
"You also have Havertz – the top scorer who scored against PSG in October – not available, Gabriel at the back and Gabriel Jesus, so that is why you saw the youngsters there on the bench. That is not what you want on your bench for a big match like this. You want it to be as strong as possible."
Image source, Getty ImagesIf they want to make it through to the Champions League final, Arsenal are going to have to "dig deeper than we ever have before", says Gunners fan Joel Beya.
Arsenal are in the semi-finals of the competition for the first time in 16 years, but if they want to reach their first final in Europe's top cup competition since their only other appearance in 2006, they need to turn around the 1-0 aggregate scoreline in Paris.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Beya said: "PSG are a very, very good side. When you look across the board - their midfielders with Joao Neves, Vitinha – they were causing us problems throughout. If you see the first goal, they just tore through our midfield like wet tissue – it was unbelievable.
"They have a world-class goalkeeper too and that is the thing - you have to be clinical.
"If [Leandro] Trossard scores his chance then we are right back in it, or [Mikel] Merino is not offside then we are right back in it. Now we have to go to PSG and with their incredible fans, it is going to be a difficulty task and we need to dig deeper than we ever have before.
"But, we need to score goals. Dembele and Doue are scary so it is difficult, it really is.
"You have to be [still confident we can win], because if you are at this stage of the competition and just there to participate then you might as well just go home now."
Image source, Mirror, Times, StarWe asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat by Paris St-Germain at Emirates Stadium.
Here are some of your comments:
Joey: Arsenal just lacked a penetrative threat or any sort of aggressive play. They passed back far too often and PSG were able to get very comfortable with their play. They need some more direct play - but I also thought they were poor defensively. The press was always just a second too slow as PSG moved the ball very quick. Disappointed, but there is still hope because these are all things they are capable of doing - they just didn't on Tuesday. We can still come back but have to be far, far better.
Rachel: If Arsenal were going to lose, I was expecting us to go down in flames. There was barely a whimper. And please could someone explain the point in substitutions with five minutes left to play when we're losing the match? Poor effort from the team, poor effort from the supporters, poor show all round.
David: Partey's yellow in the last match cost us in this game. The subsequent reshuffle of players made us so much weaker.
Steve: PSG were the better side... but two big misses and an atrocious first-half refereeing performance are all I can think of. Game isn't over but will be immensely tough.
Dan: Odegaard has been out of form for weeks and had another poor game. It won't happen but I would start Nwaneri in the second leg with Odegaard on the bench.
Guy: We have seen it so many times before this season. We just don't look like a team that's confident. We never look like we are going to grab a match by the scruff of the neck and control it and find a way to win. In the Premier League, we've had too many draws because of this, and you can't win tournaments like it either. We need to attack in the next leg otherwise we will be going out with a whimper.
Calum: I thought we got what we deserved over the 90 minutes. Although good, the crowd weren't as electric as against Madrid in the first leg and PSG's were excellent, so in the first 25 minutes we were on the ropes and hanging on. We didn't take advantage of the end of the first half and into second, and the game fell away and into PSG's hands. Massive improvement needed across the board as players who impressed against Madrid didn't turn up (Rice, Saka, Timber etc). BIG effort needed second leg, but if the women's team can do it so can we! Still confident we can go through.
Andy: Disappointed to lose but, with the second leg still to come, there were encouraging signs and we played well enough in the second half to have hope. All to play for in Paris. Game on!
Image source, Getty ImagesArsenal are "capable" of putting in "their best performance" of the season against Paris St-Germain in the second leg.
The Gunners will need to turn around a one-goal deficit at Parc des Princes next Wednesday if they are to progress from their Champions League semi-final, following Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at the Emirates.
"This is part of your learning curve as a young team and as a young manager, which Mikel Arteta still is," French football expert Julien Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"That doesn't mean that Arsenal can't go to Paris and qualify, but I probably think they will be better the next time they are in this position in the semi-final - whether that is next season or whenever - for what happened tonight and what will happen in Paris.
"But, for example, PSG did that when going to Liverpool [turning around a first-leg deficit to beat them at Anfield and progress].
"Of course, they believed before, but not many other people believed - not even me - that they could go to Anfield and do that there.
"So Arsenal can go to the Parc des Princes next week, but they will have to put in their best performance of the season, there is no doubt. Everybody will have to be at their best - the coaching, the mentality, individually, collectively - they will have to put in their best performance, but I think they are capable of it."
Former Arsenal defender Matt Upson added: "I just have a feeling that the second leg is going to be a better opportunity for Arsenal in some way.
"I think Arsenal grew into that game. Now if the tie goes like that, they will grow into it even more because they have experienced it and sampled it now.
"They only thing, for me, is how they take this result and their mindset heading to Paris next week. That is going to define their performance."
Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesThe biggest challenge for Mikel Arteta coming into Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris St-Germain was how he was going to set up in the absence of suspended midfielder Thomas Partey.
With the injuries Arsenal have and Mikel Merino playing as a central striker in recent weeks, Partey's absence caused Arteta to shuffle his team around.
Merino dropped into his natural midfield position, Declan Rice moved deeper to a number six role and away from the number eight role in which he produced two player-of-the-match performances against Real Madrid. Leandro Trossard came in as striker.
PSG were dominant from the start and had 75% possession in the opening 15 minutes.
Ousmane Dembele so often drifted into the space between Arsenal's backline and their midfield, and PSG scored the opening goal when he made that movement.
The question Arteta will be asking is - if Partey had been in the team, would he have been able to stop Dembele receiving the ball before giving PSG the lead?
Partey has been in excellent form in recent weeks and will be crucial to the Gunners next week if they are to overturn the defeat and progress to the final.
Phil McNulty
Chief football writer
Image source, Getty ImagesDeclan Rice captured the mood and flagged up the danger signals in his final message as Arsenal gathered in a huddle before they faced the formidable challenge of Paris St-Germain.
"If we don't have the ball, we die," Rice told his Arsenal team-mates as they finished their warm-up before the Champions League semi-final first leg at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are not quite dead in the tie, but they are definitely struggling to stay alive as they trail 1-0 going into next week's return in Paris - mainly because they were unable to carry out Rice's instructions in the crucial opening phases that shaped the game.
Ousmane Dembele's fourth-minute finish across Arsenal keeper David Raya from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's delivery was the culmination of a 26-pass move. It was PSG in a microcosm, Rice's warning delivered in the most painful manner.
To emphasise PSG's domination in the first exchanges, they had a total of 71.6% possession in the first 26 minutes, the period of the game in which they threw a bucket of ice cold water over what had been a white-hot environment, laying the platform for the advantage they will take back to Paris for next Wednesday's second leg.
In that same period, PSG had a remarkable passing accuracy of 86.5% in Arsenal's half, and the total ratio was 165 passes to 60.
In effect, when Arsenal finally read Rice's memo, the most important damage had been inflicted.
Arsenal pulled it around, having 55.4% possession for the rest of the game, but Rice knew what was coming and PSG were simply too good to stop early on.
Real Madrid have made Arsenal defender William Saliba their top defensive target this summer. (Marca - in Spanish), external
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