PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain delivered a resilient and tactical performance to defeat Arsenal 2-1 in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory and booking a place in the final against Inter Milan.
The French giants, often known for their possession-based dominance, were forced to adapt under heavy pressure from Arsenal and leaned on an inspired performance from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to survive wave after wave of attacks at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.
Despite being second-best in spells, PSG struck decisively through a thunderous 27th-minute volley from Fabián Ruiz, capitalizing on a loose clearance from a set piece. Arsenal had moments to respond, including a missed open goal from an England forward shortly after, but lacked the cutting edge needed to turn the tie around.
Vitinha had an opportunity to extend PSG’s lead from the penalty spot after a VAR review awarded a contentious handball against Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly. However, goalkeeper David Raya kept the visitors alive with a key save.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta lamented the missed chances and praised Donnarumma’s heroics. “The best player over the two legs was their goalkeeper,” Arteta told TNT Sports. “We were closer than the scoreline suggests. After 20 minutes, it should have been 3-0. We’re not there, and that has to hurt.”
The Gunners’ early aggression faded as the match wore on, with PSG’s counter-attacking strategy and game management proving effective. This marks PSG’s second trip to the Champions League final in five years, having previously lost to Bayern Munich in 2020.
Their next test will be against three-time European champions Inter Milan on May 31, after the Italian side edged Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in an epic semifinal series.
Arsenal’s Declan Rice echoed Arteta’s pride but acknowledged the setback. “Sometimes you have to lose a few to win. We’re growing as a team and we’ll be stronger. This won’t define us.”
PSG, who were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund at this stage last year, now have a chance to rewrite their European legacy in the final. For Arsenal, the wait for a return to continental glory continues.
