PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg): Gunners Crash Out as Clinical Parisians Book UCL Final Spot
Arsenal’s Champions League dream ended in heartbreak on Wednesday night in Paris, as Paris Saint-Germain secured a ruthless 2-1 win to book their place in the final with a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Despite a dominant and spirited performance for large spells, the Gunners were undone by missed chances and a lack of killer instinct. Goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi ensured PSG’s progression to the final, while Bukayo Saka’s late strike offered only a glimmer of hope that never fully reignited.
Arsenal Start Fast But Fail to Capitalize
Arsenal came flying out of the blocks under the lights at Parc des Princes. Jurrien Timber won the ball high up the pitch and whipped in a cross that found Declan Rice, who rose above Marquinhos but saw his header drift wide.
Moments later, Gabriel Martinelli connected sweetly with a Thomas Partey long throw, but his effort was fired straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made a fine save. Martin Ødegaard followed up with a fierce shot from the edge of the box, only to be denied by another world-class Donnarumma stop.
Despite controlling possession and winning the midfield battles, Arsenal could not break PSG’s resistance. The French champions soaked up the pressure and waited patiently for their moment.
Ruiz and Hakimi Punish the Gunners
PSG weathered the early storm and began to find rhythm. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia came closest to opening the scoring with a curling strike that cannoned off the post. That moment sparked the crowd and lifted Luis Enrique’s side.
The opener arrived in the 27th minute. After Rice was booked for a foul near the box, Arsenal failed to clear Vitinha’s free-kick. Fabian Ruiz latched onto the loose ball and unleashed a thunderous shot that took a deflection off William Saliba and flew past David Raya.
Fabián Ruiz // Hakimi ⚽
Two special finishes @Heineken | #UCLGOTD pic.twitter.com/5xW1MyQNi9
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 7, 2025
Arsenal tried to respond before halftime, but lacked the same bite. The frustration grew, and the tie began to tilt in PSG’s favor.
In the second half, Ødegaard and Saka both tested Donnarumma again, but the Italian goalkeeper continued his heroics.
Then came a controversial moment. Hakimi’s shot struck the hand of Myles Lewis-Skelly inside the box, and after a VAR review, PSG were awarded a penalty. It seemed harsh, but justice prevailed momentarily as Raya denied Vitinha from the spot.
However, the reprieve was short-lived.
Substitute Ousmane Dembélé made an instant impact, slipping a pass into Hakimi’s path. The Moroccan full-back made no mistake, curling a low shot past Raya to double PSG’s lead on the night and all but seal the tie.
Saka Offers Hope Before It Slips Away
With the tie slipping away, Arsenal found a response through their talisman. Bukayo Saka collected a pass, danced around Donnarumma, and coolly slotted into the net to make it 2-1. It was a goal that gave life to the Gunners’ faithful.
Just minutes later, Saka had another golden opportunity — this time from Riccardo Calafiori’s inviting cross — but fired over from close range.
That miss summed up Arsenal’s campaign: full of promise, plenty of quality, but without the clinical edge when it mattered most.
Arteta and Arsenal Left to Reflect
After the match, Mikel Arteta admitted the result stung deeply.
“The Champions League is decided in the boxes,” Arteta said. “We were the better team for large parts. But you have to take your chances. I’m so upset and annoyed that we didn’t do it.”
Despite winning both legs against Real Madrid in the previous round, Arsenal’s inability to replicate that ruthlessness in Paris proved costly.
Arteta’s side lacked a natural striker, and with injuries taking a toll, the burden fell on players like Ødegaard, Saka, and Rice to deliver magic — but it wasn’t enough.
Declan Rice echoed those sentiments: “We gave everything. The belief was there. But in games like this, one moment changes everything. We just couldn’t take ours.”
PSG March On to Munich
For PSG, the dream of a first-ever Champions League trophy lives on. They will now face Inter Milan in the final in Munich later this month. Luis Enrique’s men showed the kind of clinical touch and defensive resilience needed to go all the way.
Even without the injured Dembélé for much of the match, they found the answers when it mattered most. Donnarumma’s brilliance, Ruiz’s thunderbolt, and Hakimi’s composure were enough to end Arsenal’s journey.
The 2025 Champions League final: Paris vs Inter #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/BPgfW9CiuO
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 7, 2025
Player Ratings
PSG:
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Donnarumma – 9: Match-winner with multiple vital saves.
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Hakimi – 8.5: Scored the goal that crushed Arsenal’s hopes.
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Fabian Ruiz – 8: Cracking opener, strong midfield presence.
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Vitinha – 6.5: Created problems but missed penalty a blemish.
Arsenal:
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Saka – 7.5: Scored and worked tirelessly, but missed key chance.
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Rice – 7: Good in midfield, but booked and couldn’t take early chance.
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Partey – 7.5: Controlled midfield early, showed composure.
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Ødegaard – 6.5: Creative but couldn’t find the final product.
Final Whistle
As PSG celebrated reaching another Champions League final, Arsenal were left wondering what might have been. They showed they belong at Europe’s top table — now it’s about going one step further.
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