At one point, they passed the ball back and forth, and it looked like McGregor had the whole field to himself for a kickabout.

Given that the Dubliner is known to have been a big Man United fan as a child before becoming more interested in fighting and then MMA, this pairing makes no sense at all.

Paris Saint-Germain is a younger, more serious, and better-balanced team these days. Ousmane Dembele was kicked off the team for breaking the rules, and manager Luis Enrique fired him.

That showed that things had changed in the locker room since the days when egotistical players ran the show at the Parc des Princes.

Early on, they were making things hard for Arteta’s team. However, Bukayo Saka hit the post after Arsenal’s new fullback Riccardo Calafiori ran inside to set him up.

Havertz had just wasted a good chance that was set up by Saka and the raiding Jurrien Timber when he scored the first goal 20 minutes in.

Leandro Trossard sent in a dangerous cross from the left side of the field, and Donnarumma worried, leaving his line and flapping as Havertz got past Pacho, who was marking him, and scored with a simple header.

While Havertz is sometimes called a “false nine,” the German player has many of the skills of a real centre forward, among other things.

Donnarumma, the custodian who broke England’s hearts in the 2021 Euros final shootout, had a rough start. He had already been treated for a hurt leg after colliding with Gabriel Martinelli.

Many of the French fans, who were shirtless like the Georgians in the cold drizzle, kept yelling and dancing, and their team said they would respond.

First, Nuno Mendes hit the post with a shot. Then, Achraf Hakimi ran down the right side, cut inside, and caused David Raya to save with his legs at the near post.

So Arsenal’s second goal was both against the flow of play and a complete accident. But no one at the Emirates couldn’t care less.

Saka won a free kick near the goal line and then sent in a low, inswinging ball that Martinelli, Gabriel, and Thomas Partey all tried to hit but missed. But Donnarumma did it too.

Maybe it was all just another brilliant idea from Nico Jover, Arsenal’s set-piece master. Or maybe it was just completely crazy.

That gift made Saka really purr. He showed off his Elvis hips, toasted his fullback and set up Trossard, but Donnarumma suddenly remembered that he is a great custodian.

Halftime: Arteta switched Timber for Jakub Kiwior. Soon after, his team almost scored a wonderful third goal: Trossard set up Havertz, who chipped the ball to Martinelli, but the Italian volleyed too close to Donnarumma.