PSG coach Unai Emery was disappointed his side failed to win, but praised his players’ collective performance and refused to leave all of the blame at Cavani’s feet.
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Ultimately, Arsenal rescued a point via a late Alexis Sanchez goal but if it weren’t for the heroics of goalkeeper David Ospina and PSG’s inability to finish in front of goal, Arsenal might well have been staring at the prospect of a drubbing by the home side.
And Ospina’s performance silenced the doubters who questioned why Wenger had chosen to play him in Paris rather than regular number one Petr Cech, who was left on the bench.
The end of the game was marred by a double dismissal as referee Viktor Kassai sent off Arsenal substitute Olivier Giroud and PSG midfielder Marco Veratti for an incident off the ball.
It was a dream start for the French champions, quarter-finalists in each of the last four seasons, and for Cavani as he seeks to step up and assume the responsibility of leading the attack following the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Wenger opted to field David Ospina in goal, but, after speaking on the eve of the game of the need to start the Champions League campaign well, the Colombian was picking the ball out of his net after just 41 seconds.
The Uruguay worldwide, leading the line for PSG this season in the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, was in again three minutes before the break, but he could not bring Di Maria’s pass under control with just Ospina to beat.
“We knew this would be a tough match with so many great players on the pitch”, the keeper said.
The France striker came on for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 63rd minute as Sanchez went to the left wing. “This team deserves a lot, because we are working a lot to improve”. It came from a familiar position as Sanchez approached the box from the left-hand side after Iwobi’s shot from Mesut Ozil’s ideal cut-back had been repelled by Areola. The ball rebounded to Sanchez, though, and he picked out the bottom corner to bring Arsenal level. “We will look at it again”, he said. Areola was then called into action, saving low down to deny Iwobi as the game opened up in the closing stages.
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The France global, 29, clashed with Verratti deep into stoppage time at the Parc de Princes but the Frenchman, who will now miss the home encounter against FC Basel, feels his opponent went to ground without due cause.
