Arsenal fall short as PSG books a spot in Munich final
The dream is over for Arsenal fans, with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) sealing their place in the UEFA Champions League final after a clinical 2-1 win in the second leg at the Parc des Princes. The result gave the French side a 3-1 aggregate win — and the Londoners will be left wondering what could have been.
Early Arsenal pressure, but PSG held firm
It was all go in the opening minutes. Arsenal came out swinging, clearly keen to shake things up after a 1–0 loss at home in the first leg. With Thomas Partey back in midfield, they pushed hard: Declan Rice skimmed a header just wide, and Gianluigi Donnarumma showed why he’s one of the best, making key saves from Martinelli and Odegaard in the first eight minutes.
Despite the onslaught, PSG didn’t crack. Once they settled, it was Fabian Ruiz who drew first blood — smashing in a thunderous left-footed strike in the 27th minute after a recycled free-kick. That goal gave the home side some breathing room and tipped the tie heavily in their favour.
Drama, saves, and a touch of controversy
There was no shortage of tension. Bukayo Saka nearly sparked an Arsenal comeback just after the hour mark, but Donnarumma stretched low to his left for yet another world-class save.
Then came the penalty drama. A VAR review saw a spot-kick given against Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly for handball — a call that had Mikel Arteta fuming on the sidelines. But justice (depending on who you ask) was swift, as David Raya guessed right to deny Vitinha from the spot.
Still, PSG weren’t done. Substitute Ousmane Dembélé — who missed the starting XI with a knock — made an instant impact, setting up Achraf Hakimi for a classy finish in the 72nd minute. Arsenal did manage to claw one back through Saka not long after, but the gap was too wide, and the clock too cruel.
PSG heading to Munich, Arsenal left empty-handed
For PSG, this will be just their second Champions League final, five years on from their loss to Bayern Munich. This time, they’ll meet Inter Milan on May 31 in Munich — and unlike their behind-closed-doors semi-final win in 2020, this one came with a roaring home crowd to savour it.
As for Arsenal, it’s another near-miss in Europe. It’s been 19 years since their last Champions League final appearance, and with their FA Cup drought still going since 2020, fans will be left hoping for a strong finish in the Premier League.
Key Takeaways:
- PSG won 2–1 on the night, 3–1 on aggregate
- Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi scored for PSG; Saka netted for Arsenal
- Donnarumma was a standout performer with multiple clutch saves
- PSG will face Inter Milan in the final on May 31 in Munich
What’s next?
Arsenal turn their focus back to the league, where they’ll be fighting to secure a top-two finish. PSG, on the other hand, are one match away from European glory.
