PSG vs Arsenal, PSG Edge Arsenal 2-1 to Book Their Place in the Champions League Final
PSG vs Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain survived a furious Arsenal fight-back to win 2-1 on a tense night at the Parc des Princes and seal a 3-1 aggregate triumph. The semi-final served up everything: a deflected opener, a saved penalty, a wonder goal, and one last surge from the visitors that fell just short.
Arsenal Start Brightly but Ruiz Strikes First
Mikel Arteta’s players arrived needing to overturn a 1-0 first-leg loss and they attacked with confidence from the first whistle. Declan Rice’s early header flashed wide, Gabriel Martinelli forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a sharp block, and Martin Ødegaard fizzed a drive on target.
Yet football can be cruel. In the 28th minute Fabian Ruiz collected a half-cleared cross, shifted the ball onto his left foot and let fly. The shot clipped Ben White’s thigh and spun past the wrong-footed David Raya. PSG were suddenly two-up on aggregate and the home crowd erupted.
Penalty Drama Keeps Hope Alive
Arsenal pushed after the break, only to be hit by another setback on 67 minutes when VAR spotted Myles Lewis-Skelly’s out-stretched arm. A penalty was given, but Raya guessed right and parried Vitinha’s weak effort. The save gave the travelling Gooners fresh belief; briefly the tie felt alive again.
Hakimi’s Rocket Looks to End the Contest
Just three minutes later that hope seemed to vanish. Thomas Partey sliced a clearance and Achraf Hakimi pounced, bending a first-time curler into the far corner. At 2-0 on the night and 3-0 overall, PSG were already booking hotel rooms for Berlin. Hakimi sprinted to the ultras, smoke from flares swirling above his celebration.
Saka Gives Arsenal a Lifeline
Credit to Arsenal—they refused to fold. On 76 minutes Leandro Trossard robbed Marquinhos in midfield and slid a pass across the area. Bukayo Saka rounded Donnarumma and rolled the ball home. Moments later the England winger, suddenly unmarked six yards out, blazed another chance over the bar—an agonising miss that would have set up a grandstand finish.
Last Push Comes Up Short
Arteta threw on Riccardo Calafiori and more attackers, turned Partey’s long throws into makeshift corners, and kept PSG pinned back. Yet Marquinhos and Lucas Hernández headed everything clear, and when the five minutes of added time expired referee Daniele Orsato’s whistle confirmed PSG’s passage to their first final since 2020.
PSG vs Arsenal, Tactical Takeaways
- PSG’s flexible shape: Luis Enrique asked Hakimi and Nuno Mendes to attack like wingers, stretching Arsenal’s back line and freeing Ruiz and Vitinha to shoot from the edge of the box.
- Arsenal’s missed match-ups: With Kai Havertz injured, Arteta used Mikel Merino as a false nine. The move misfired; Arsenal lacked a focal point until Trossard came on.
- Midfield duel: Rice carried Arsenal forward but Vitinha’s constant movement dragged him wide, opening lanes for Ruiz—one of those lanes produced the opener.
What the Result Means
PSG will meet Inter Milan in Berlin on 31 May, chasing a first Champions League crown and a possible domestic-European treble. Enrique’s men have now beaten Barcelona and Arsenal in back-to-back rounds, proving they are far more than a collection of stars.
For Arsenal, the wait for a second Champions League final continues. The Premier League title race is still alive, but Arteta must lift a squad that feels it squandered a golden chance—especially after Raya’s penalty heroics gave them a lifeline.
PSG vs Arsenal, Key Numbers
- Shots: PSG 14 – Arsenal 18
- On target: PSG 6 – Arsenal 7
- Possession: Arsenal 57 %
- Saves: Donnarumma 6 – Raya 4
- Pass accuracy: PSG 86 % – Arsenal 88 %
Final Word
This semi-final had everything: early excitement, penalty drama, a thunderbolt, smoke-filled celebrations and late-night desperation. PSG handled the heat better and deserved their place in the final, yet Arsenal can travel home knowing they pushed one of Europe’s richest teams to the edge. Sometimes, though, edge is not enough.
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