PSG 2-1 Arsenal [3-1 agg]: Gunners bow out of Champions League with defeat in Paris | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain booked their place in the UEFA Champions League final with a 3-1 aggregate win over Arsenal, ending the Gunners’ campaign and extending their long wait for European silverware.

Arsenal were aiming to become only the third team to reach the Champions League final after losing the first leg of a semi-final at home, and they started brightly, with Gianluigi Donnarumma forced into early saves to keep the visitors at bay.

However, in the 24th minute, PSG broke the deadlock as Fabián Ruiz unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box to double the hosts’ aggregate advantage. That goal proved the difference at the break, with the home side taking a 1-0 lead into half-time.

Achraf Hakimi doubled the hosts’ lead in the 72nd minute with a powerful strike from distance, beating David Raya at his left-hand post. However, just five minutes later, Bukayo Saka pulled one back for Arsenal, reigniting hopes of a comeback. But it wasn’t to be, as the Gunners fell at the final hurdle, crashing out of Europe with a 3-1 aggregate defeat to PSG.

As it happened

The Gunners looked to get back into the tie early, with Bukayo Saka causing danger down the right. Declan Rice had the first opportunity of the night and should have given the away side the lead after Jurrien Timber won the ball back deep inside the PSG half and swung a brilliant ball into Rice, who narrowly guided his shot off target in a big chance missed for the Gunners.

Moments later, Gabriel Martinelli had a golden opportunity after a long throw-in found him charging into the box, but Donnarumma produced a crucial save to deny the Brazilian. Arsenal maintained their early pressure, with Martin Ødegaard testing Donnarumma again, forcing the Italian keeper into another smart stop.

However, PSG began to grow into the game after surviving Arsenal’s early pressure and nearly took the lead in the 16th minute. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was picked out on the left, cut inside onto his favoured left foot, and unleashed a stunning long-range strike that had Raya beaten, but the post came to Arsenal’s rescue.

Luis Enrique’s side continued to grow in confidence and broke the deadlock in the 24th minute. A free-kick into the box was initially cleared, but the ball fell kindly to Fabián Ruiz, who rifled a powerful strike from distance beyond the outstretched David Raya. It was a potentially decisive goal, notably Ruiz’s first ever in the Champions League.

Mikel Merino came close just before the break after Bukayo Saka whipped a low cross into the box, with the Spaniard only inches away from turning it goalward. It was the final chance of the half, as the French side went into the interval with a 1-0 lead on the night and a 2-0 advantage on aggregate.

The second half began at a slower tempo, with Arsenal knowing they needed a goal to keep their hopes alive, but PSG looked more threatening. However, Bukayo Saka had a brilliant chance in the 63rd minute, bursting into space down the right before unleashing a powerful strike, only for Donnarumma to get his fingertips to it and deny Mikel Arteta’s side.

Paris Saint-Germain were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute after a VAR review confirmed a handball by Myles Lewis-Skelly. However, David Raya made an excellent save by denying Vitinha from the spot and keeping Mikel Arteta’s side in the contest. However, two minutes later, Hakimi effectively sealed the tie, firing in a powerful strike from range that beat Raya at his near post to give the hosts a 3-0 aggregate lead.

The Gunners weren’t done yet, as Saka rounded the keeper and calmly slotted the ball into an empty net to give Arsenal a lifeline. Moments later, he had a golden chance to score again after being picked out in the box, but the winger miscued his effort and blazed it over the bar – a moment that could have changed the tie.

The French side saw out the remainder of the game to secure a brilliant 2-1 victory on the night, booking their place in the final in Munich on May 31st against Inter Milan.

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