In a gripping UEFA Champions League semifinal clash at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain secured their place in the final with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal, concluding the tie with a 3-1 aggregate score. The French giants will face Inter Milan in the final on June 1, 2025, at the Allianz Arena, marking PSG's fourth major European final appearance.
Arsenal entered the match with a 1-0 deficit from the first leg and started brightly, applying pressure on the PSG defense early on. Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Odegaard all had opportunities to score, but they were thwarted by the brilliant Gianluigi Donnarumma, who showcased his shot-stopping prowess throughout the match.
The turning point came in the 27th minute when Fabian Ruiz scored a stunning volley, giving PSG a crucial 1-0 lead on the night and extending their aggregate advantage to 2-0. The goal stemmed from a free-kick that Arsenal failed to clear effectively, allowing Ruiz to chest the ball down and unleash a powerful shot into the back of the net.
As the match progressed, Arsenal's hopes of a comeback were further complicated when PSG was awarded a penalty in the 66th minute after a VAR review determined that Myles Lewis-Skelly had handled a shot from Achraf Hakimi. However, David Raya came to Arsenal's rescue, saving Vitinha's penalty and keeping the Gunners in the contest.
Despite the setback, PSG doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when Hakimi capitalized on a mistake by Thomas Partey, firing a low shot past Raya to make it 2-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate. Arsenal's chances of progressing seemed bleak at this point.
However, the Gunners refused to give up. In the 76th minute, Bukayo Saka pulled one back for Arsenal, scoring from close range after a deflected pass from Leandro Trossard. This goal reignited hopes for the visitors, making it 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate.
As the match entered the closing stages, Arsenal pushed for an equalizer, but their efforts were in vain. Saka had a golden opportunity to score again in the 80th minute, but he missed a wide-open goal from just seven yards out, sending the ball soaring over the crossbar and leaving Arsenal fans in disbelief.
With the clock winding down, PSG's defense held firm, and they managed to see out the match despite Arsenal's late surge. The final whistle confirmed PSG's place in the final, where they will seek to claim their first-ever Champions League title.
Post-match, Arsenal captain Declan Rice expressed his disappointment but remained optimistic about the future. "It's gutting. If we score one of those chances in the first 15 minutes, the game completely changes, but it is the small margins in football. Two mistakes from us, and two goals for them, and with the chances we missed, it felt like it wasn't meant to be. PSG have gone through, but we are going to be back, and we'll be a much stronger outfit," he said.
Manager Mikel Arteta also reflected on the match, congratulating PSG for their achievement while emphasizing his pride in his players' performance. "I thought we were much better than them. The best player on the pitch has been their goalkeeper. If we want to win this competition, we need to use this hurt," he commented.
PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma was undoubtedly the star of the match, making several key saves to deny Arsenal and maintain his team's advantage. His performance solidified his reputation as one of the top goalkeepers in Europe.
The match statistics highlighted Arsenal's attacking intent, with the Gunners registering 19 shots compared to PSG's 11, but the clinical finishing of the Parisians proved decisive. Arsenal's inability to convert their chances ultimately cost them dearly.
With this victory, PSG has become just the third team to reach a Champions League final despite losing five matches along the way, a feat previously achieved by Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus. As they prepare for the final against Inter Milan, PSG will look to convert their strong performances into silverware.
As for Arsenal, this defeat marks another season without major silverware, and questions will be raised about Mikel Arteta's future as manager. The Gunners have now failed to progress from their last four major cup semi-finals, a statistic that will weigh heavily on the club's ambitions moving forward.
In conclusion, PSG's triumph over Arsenal was a testament to their resilience and quality, setting the stage for an exciting final against Inter Milan. Fans will eagerly await June 1, 2025, to see if PSG can finally lift the coveted Champions League trophy.
