PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg): Parisians Best Gunners to Reach Champions League Final
PSG vs Arsenal
In a pulsating encounter at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain secured their place in the 2024-25 Champions League final, overcoming Arsenal with a 2-1 victory in the second leg of their semi-final tie, clinching a 3-1 aggregate triumph. Under the astute guidance of Luis Enrique, PSG showcased their resilience and attacking prowess, with Fabián Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi delivering the decisive blows that propelled the Ligue 1 giants into the Munich showpiece. Despite a late goal from Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, which injected a fleeting sense of tension into the closing stages, PSG held firm, their dreams of a maiden European Cup triumph now tantalizingly within reach. The match was a tactical chess game, with moments of brilliance, missed opportunities, and a penalty save that kept the Gunners’ hopes alive until the final moments. For PSG, this victory marked a significant milestone in their quest to shed their perennial underachiever tag in Europe, while Arsenal’s Champions League aspirations for the season were extinguished in the French capital. The Parc des Princes roared with approval as the final whistle confirmed PSG’s passage, their fans daring to believe that this could finally be their year.
The semi-final second leg began with Arsenal displaying an unexpected level of aggression, a stark contrast to their more cautious approach in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, where PSG had dominated early proceedings. Mikel Arteta’s men, perhaps spurred by their recent setback against Bournemouth in the Premier League, came out of the blocks with intent, determined to overturn the 1-0 deficit from Ousmane Dembélé’s solitary strike in London. Within the first three minutes, Jurriën Timber intercepted a loose pass high up the pitch on the right flank and delivered a pinpoint cross to Declan Rice, who found himself unmarked inside the six-yard box. However, the midfielder, usually so composed, failed to direct his header on target, a miss that would set the tone for Arsenal’s profligacy in the opening exchanges. The Gunners’ early pressure didn’t stop there; Thomas Partey, leveraging his physicality, launched a series of long throw-ins that caused chaos in the PSG penalty area. Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard both found themselves with golden opportunities from these set-pieces, only to be thwarted by the reflexes of Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian goalkeeper, a towering presence between the posts, made a particularly stunning save to deny Ødegaard, diving low to his left to palm away a fierce strike. Arsenal’s relentless start saw them register five shots within the first 10 minutes, a statistic that underscored their ambition and marked the first time this season they had managed at least three shots in the opening 10 minutes of a Champions League away match. Yet, for all their early dominance, the scoreboard remained stubbornly unmoved, a source of frustration for Arteta on the touchline.
PSG, initially rattled by Arsenal’s high-octane start, began to find their footing after the 15-minute mark, their technical quality and composure on the ball gradually asserting itself. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the Georgian winger who has been a revelation since joining PSG, nearly doubled the hosts’ aggregate lead with a moment of individual brilliance. After exchanging a slick one-two with the dynamic Désiré Doué, Kvaratskhelia curled a shot towards the far corner, only to see it cannon off the upright, leaving Arsenal’s defense breathing a collective sigh of relief. The Parc des Princes faithful, sensing their team’s growing ascendancy, roared their approval, and their encouragement was rewarded in the 27th minute. A free-kick from Vitinha was only partially cleared by Partey, and the ball fell invitingly to Fabián Ruiz on the edge of the box. The Spanish midfielder, displaying impeccable technique, controlled the ball with a deft touch before unleashing a thunderous strike that flew past David Raya’s despairing dive. The Parc des Princes erupted, the noise deafening, as PSG took a commanding lead in the tie. Moments later, the hosts nearly doubled their advantage when Kvaratskhelia led a lightning-fast counter-attack, but his pass to Bradley Barcola was slightly overhit, allowing Rice to recover and force a save from Raya at the near post. The game’s tempo, which had been frenetic in the opening stages, began to settle after PSG’s opener, with Arsenal’s initial aggression giving way to a more cautious approach. Arteta’s men, perhaps wary of leaving themselves exposed to PSG’s devastating counter-attacks, struggled to maintain their early momentum, and Luis Enrique’s side went into the break with a slender but deserved lead.
The second half began with Arsenal desperately seeking an equalizer, knowing that a single goal could reignite their hopes of a comeback. Saka, Arsenal’s talisman, nearly provided it just before the hour mark, whipping a dangerous corner into the box that Timber met at the back post, only to see his effort drift agonizingly wide. Minutes later, Saka took matters into his own hands, cutting inside onto his left foot and bending a curling shot towards the far corner, but Donnarumma, once again, proved equal to the task, parrying the ball to safety. PSG, however, were not content to sit back and absorb pressure. Hakimi, marauding down the left, forced a save from Raya with a low drive, and the subsequent moment of controversy shifted the game’s narrative. Following a VAR review, referee Felix Zwayer was summoned to the monitor to assess an incident involving Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, whose outstretched arm had inadvertently blocked Hakimi’s shot. The decision was a penalty, and the Parc des Princes held its breath as Vitinha stepped up. Raya, however, emerged as the hero, diving to his right to tip the Portuguese midfielder’s effort wide, a save that sparked wild celebrations among the Arsenal traveling contingent. The save injected renewed belief into the Gunners, but their respite was short-lived. Luis Enrique, sensing the need for a game-changer, introduced Ousmane Dembélé, who had been nursing a muscle injury and started on the bench despite his remarkable tally of 25 goals in 25 games for PSG in 2025. The French winger’s impact was immediate. Just two minutes after his introduction, Dembélé combined with Hakimi and Kvaratskhelia in a flowing move that culminated in the Moroccan full-back curling a sublime shot into the far corner, restoring PSG’s two-goal cushion on aggregate and seemingly sealing the tie.
Arsenal, to their credit, refused to capitulate. Leandro Trossard, another substitute, injected fresh energy into their attack, and his persistence down the left flank led to a fortuitous moment. A deflected cross fell kindly to Saka, who showed remarkable composure to squeeze the ball past Lucas Hernández and Donnarumma at the near post, reducing the deficit to 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate. Saka’s goal, his 10th in just 18 Champions League appearances, underlined his status as one of England’s brightest talents, with only Harry Kane reaching double figures in fewer games among English players. The Gunners sensed an opportunity for a dramatic turnaround, and Saka nearly equalized moments later when Riccardo Calafiori’s cross evaded Donnarumma, but the winger skewed his shot over the bar under pressure. Despite their late rally, Arsenal’s hopes were ultimately dashed by PSG’s game management. Luis Enrique’s men, buoyed by the raucous support of their fans, slowed the tempo, retained possession, and saw out the remaining minutes with a professionalism that belied their historically fragile reputation in Europe. As the final whistle blew, the Parc des Princes erupted in a cacophony of joy, PSG’s players and supporters united in their belief that this could be the year they finally conquer the Champions League.
For PSG, the victory was a testament to their evolution under Luis Enrique. Dembélé’s remarkable campaign, with 12 goal involvements in the Champions League (eight goals, four assists), set a new benchmark for a PSG player in a single season, surpassing even the exploits of Kylian Mbappé in previous years. The contributions of Ruiz, Hakimi, and Kvaratskhelia highlighted the depth and quality of PSG’s squad, while Donnarumma’s heroics in goal provided the foundation for their success. As they prepare to face Inter in the final, PSG carry the weight of expectation but also the confidence of a team that has overcome formidable opposition. For Arsenal, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow, their early promise undone by missed chances and defensive lapses. Arteta will rue the opportunities squandered in the opening exchanges, but the experience of reaching the semi-finals will serve as valuable lessons for a young squad still finding its way on the European stage. In Munich, PSG will have the chance to etch their name into footballing immortality, while Arsenal return to London with heads held high but hearts heavy, their European dream deferred for another year.
