PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg): Valiant Gunners fall in heartbreaking Champions League semi-final loss
Paris Saint-Germain to face Inter Milan in Munich showpiece on May 31 after winning both legs in the last four
Arsenal’s wait for a Champions League title has again been extended as they were edged out by Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.
Despite launching a full-blooded attack in the opening exchanges, the Gunners could not capitalise on their chances until the deficit was too great to overcome, Bukayo Saka’s late effort not enough after goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi.
Arsenal flew out of the gates with an extremely aggressive press. To draw level with an early goal was the aim, and they gave their all in pursuit of it.
Gianluigi Donnarumma had other ideas, though. He got down quickly to deny Gabriel Martinelli’s close-range effort early in the half – the first of many chances created by Thomas Partey’s soaring long throw-ins. He would do the same to parry a powerful Martin Odegaard volley shortly after, with Declan Rice also sending a header wide.
PSG were pinned back through the opening 20 minutes, unable to string more than a few passes together under Arsenal’s suffocating press, but when a chance came, they grabbed it with both hands.
Partey’s wayward clearance fell to Ruiz, who sold Martinelli with a deft dummy before levelling a volley at goal, deflected unfortunately by William Saliba on its way past David Raya.
They would nearly double their lead moments later as Bradley Barcola had a shot blocked heroically by Rice. The Gunners trailed by two on aggregate at half-time and had it all to do in the second period.
While Arsenal’s fight could not be questioned after the break, it was clear they had spent too much energy before it. The relentless pace with which they dominated their hosts in the first half was nowhere to be seen. Heads did not drop, but legs looked heavy.
They were not without their moments – Saka remained lively throughout and set-pieces continued to pose a genuine threat, but still PSG held on.
Donnarumma’s commanding presence in the penalty area effectively neutralised Arsenal’s attacking joy. He rose above the rest to punch away cross after hopeful cross, and denied Saka’s curling effort at full stretch with half an hour remaining to preserve PSG’s lead.
VAR made an ugly appearance shortly after. Hakimi’s shot grazed Myles Lewis-Skelly’s hand in a manner so insignificant that not a single player appealed for the decision, but the referee pointed to the spot after checking the monitor. Justice was served, though, as Vitinha’s half-hearted effort was coolly saved by Raya.
It was a rallying moment for Arsenal, but their resurgence was short-lived – PSG produced the killer blow just three minutes later. Hakimi arrived from nowhere to pick Partey’s pocket, placing the loose ball just out of Raya’s reach to put PSG three clear.
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