Paris Saint-Germain secured their place in the Champions League final after overcoming Arsenal in a gripping semi-final second leg in Paris. Despite a valiant effort from the visitors, PSG’s blend of experience and composure proved too strong, booking their second appearance in the showpiece match with a 2-1 win on the night and 3-1 on aggregate.
Arsenal threw everything into the contest, playing with energy, belief, and a relentless desire to overturn the deficit from the first leg. Their players pressed high and created early chances, with Thomas Partey’s long throws causing problems and Martin Ødegaard forcing a sharp save from Gianluigi Donnarumma. Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli also threatened, but PSG weathered the storm.
The French side, despite a few early nerves, grew into the game. They were content to let Arsenal have possession and looked lethal on the counterattack. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck the post with a curling effort, and Arsenal began to show signs of vulnerability. A loose pass from William Saliba and a heavy touch from Rice that earned him a booking highlighted moments of lost control.
The breakthrough came when Partey failed to clear a free-kick effectively, and Fabián Ruiz pounced, controlling the ball with his chest before launching a thunderous left-footed strike into the top corner. It took a slight deflection, but there was no doubt about the quality of the hit.
Arsenal remained undeterred. Bukayo Saka and Martinelli continued to test PSG’s defence, delivering crosses that went unanswered. Myles Lewis-Skelly, one of the youngest players on the pitch, showed courage on the ball but also made mistakes, one of which led to a dangerous PSG break that Rice managed to block.
After the break, PSG appeared more settled. Their defensive shape held firm and they looked dangerous when regaining possession. Arsenal searched for a lifeline through set pieces and wide attacks, with Saka coming closest with a curling shot that forced Donnarumma into an acrobatic save.
Controversy struck in the 69th minute when a VAR check awarded PSG a penalty for a handball by Lewis-Skelly, even though it appeared accidental and harsh. David Raya saved Vitinha’s spot-kick, offering Arsenal a flicker of hope. But that hope was quickly extinguished.
Partey lost the ball in a dangerous area, allowing Achraf Hakimi to rifle home PSG’s second goal of the night. Arsenal still pushed, refusing to give in. A deflected cross from Leandro Trossard reached Saka, who finally beat Donnarumma to make it 2-1. Moments later, another golden chance fell to Saka, but he blazed over.
Despite their relentless spirit and clear improvement under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal fell short. The intensity of the occasion, the quality of the opposition, and a few decisive errors proved costly. PSG, for their part, were composed, clinical, and now have a shot at claiming their first Champions League title when they face Inter Milan in Munich.
