PSG vs Arsenal Review
Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the UEFA Champions League final with a 3-1 aggregate win over Arsenal, following a 2-1 victory in the second leg of the semi-finals at Parc des Princes. This achievement makes PSG the third team from Ligue 1 to reach multiple finals. They entered the match with a narrow lead from the first leg, while Arsenal aimed to break their streak of failing to progress in European knockout rounds. Mikel Arteta’s squad started strong in Paris, with Declan Rice missing a header from Jurriën Timber’s cross, and Gianluigi Donnarumma making two exceptional saves to stop efforts from Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard within the first 10 minutes.
Luis Enrique’s team managed to withstand an early challenge and showcased their own impressive attacking prowess, highlighted by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s curling shot that hit the post. This foreshadowed what was to come, as Fabián Ruiz scored the opening goal with a fantastic strike. Thomas Partey inadvertently headed a set-piece from Vitinha into Ruiz’s path, allowing the Portuguese midfielder to skillfully position himself before firing an unstoppable left-footed shot past David Raya, marking his first-ever Champions League goal.
Raya later made a great save to deny Bradley Barcola’s close-range effort. After halftime, Arsenal sought inspiration, which almost came from Bukayo Saka, but Donnarumma made another remarkable save to prevent Saka’s shot from finding the top corner. The match took a turn in favor of Paris when Myles Lewis-Skelly was harshly penalized for handball as Achraf Hakimi shot, but Raya redeemed that perceived injustice by saving Vitinha’s penalty, keeping Arsenal’s hopes alive in the tie.
That optimism seemed fleeting when Hakimi scored with a precise right-footed shot past Raya, punishing Partey for his hesitant defending and bringing PSG significantly closer to the final. Just when it seemed like the Gunners were finished, Leandro Trossard outmuscled Marquinhos and set up Saka, who scored from close range. However, Saka missed a crucial chance to equalize, failing to convert a wide-open goal from Riccardo Calafiori’s cross.
Enrique’s team managed to hold on, staying on track for their first-ever Champions League title, joining Reims (1956, 1959) and Marseille (1991, 1993) as teams that have reached multiple finals after their 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the 2020 final. On the other hand, having lost the first leg at home, this result marks Arsenal’s sixth exit in European knockout rounds, leaving Arteta’s squad facing the possibility of a fifth straight season without a major trophy.
