Paris Saint-Germain 2 – 1 Arsenal
Despite creating numerous golden opportunities, Arsenal squandered them all and left the pitch with frustration and disappointment.
The English side started with hunger and intensity, creating several clear chances early on—but failed to make them count. PSG responded swiftly with a counterattack and extended their lead in the second half. Though Arsenal pulled one back late in the game, Mikel Arteta’s men couldn’t stage a comeback. Paris Saint-Germain marched into the Champions League final, still chasing their dream of a first-ever title.
In Wednesday’s second-leg semifinal on home soil, Luis Enrique’s side secured a 2-1 win, making it 3-1 on aggregate after their 1-0 away victory last week.
Just like in the first leg, PSG struck in the first half—this time through a brilliant strike from Fabián Ruiz. Achraf Hakimi later doubled the lead. Arsenal’s only goal came from Bukayo Saka, after a series of missed opportunities.
Although Arsenal slightly edged possession, they managed 19 shots with only four on target. PSG, on the other hand, had six of their 11 attempts on target.
The French champions will now face Inter Milan in the final.
From the opening whistle, Arsenal pressed aggressively. Within the first four minutes, they had two clear chances. Declan Rice’s header narrowly missed in the third minute, followed by a chaotic box scramble where Gabriel Martinelli’s shot was blocked by Gianluigi Donnarumma’s knee.
Minutes later, Donnarumma pulled off another crucial save—diving to deny a low shot from Martin Ødegaard.
In the 17th minute, PSG nearly scored on a counterattack. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s fierce angled shot beat the keeper but hit the far post.
A few minutes later, Désiré Doué went one-on-one with the goalkeeper but failed to convert with a weak effort. PSG didn’t take long to make up for it, though.
In the 27th minute, Thomas Partey failed to clear a free-kick from the left. Fabián Ruiz controlled it with his chest and smashed a rocket from the edge of the box—David Raya had no chance.
With the aggregate at 2-0, the home crowd erupted, and PSG grew in confidence. Barcola had a great chance to extend the lead but couldn’t get a clean shot under pressure inside the box.
In the second half, both sides exchanged blows. In the 63rd minute, Saka’s powerful shot towards the far post was spectacularly saved one-handed by Donnarumma.
Moments later, PSG had a golden chance to seal the game when a handball by Luis Skelly in the Arsenal box led to a VAR-confirmed penalty. However, Vitinha’s tame shot was easily saved by Raya.
Just three minutes later, Achraf Hakimi ended all doubts. Collecting a pass from substitute Ousmane Dembélé, the Moroccan defender turned and fired a powerful strike into the net.
Saka gave Arsenal a glimmer of hope in the 76th minute, battling past defenders in the six-yard box to slot one past Donnarumma.
Only four minutes later, Saka had the chance to completely change the game. Ricardo’s cross found him unmarked in the box, with Donnarumma off-balance—but Saka blazed it over an empty net.
That miss seemed to close the curtain on Arsenal’s comeback hopes. They couldn’t threaten again in the remaining minutes.
PSG have now reached the Champions League final for the second time in their history. Their first appearance came in 2020, when they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
Now, with that dream still unfulfilled, PSG will return to Munich on May 31—hoping to finally make it theirs.
