Paris Saint-Germain showcased resilience, tactical adaptability, and clinical finishing on Wednesday night at the Parc des Princes, holding off a spirited Arsenal side to secure a 2-1 victory in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal and a 3-1 aggregate triumph.
The win sends PSG to their second-ever final in Europe’s premier club competition, where they’ll face Inter Milan on May 31 in Munich.
In a tie where PSG were forced to play without their usual dominance in possession, it was their defensive discipline, counter-attacking sharpness, and a heroic performance from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma that carried them through.
Arsenal, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, came out aggressively. With the return of Thomas Partey in midfield, the Gunners dominated the early stages, launching wave after wave of attacks.
They ended the match with 61 attacking sequences to PSG’s 26, yet failed to convert their chances when it mattered most.
Donnarumma stood tall under pressure, making crucial saves from Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka.
Despite Arsenal’s fast start, it was PSG who struck first in the 27th minute. After a cleared free-kick bounced out to the edge of the box, Fabian Ruiz struck a spectacular half-volley past Aaron Ramsdale to give the hosts breathing room.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia nearly added to PSG’s tally minutes later, hitting the post with a curling effort.
Arsenal responded with more pressure, but were continuously denied by Donnarumma’s brilliance.
After the break, PSG absorbed further attacks and saw a penalty awarded via VAR for handball.
Vitinha failed to convert it, but redemption came in the 72nd minute when Achraf Hakimi swept home a low strike, assisted by Ousmane Dembélé, to make it 2-0 on the night.
Saka gave Arsenal a lifeline with a goal four minutes later, but it proved too little, too late.
Luis Enrique, in his first season at the helm, praised the team’s evolution post-Mbappé, emphasizing unity and a long-term vision over star power.
“This is a project that has evolved since last year,” he said. “Our goal remains to make history.”
For Arsenal, the night ended in heartbreak. Manager Mikel Arteta expressed pride but also frustration. “So upset, so annoyed that we didn’t manage to do it,” he said, noting the emotional response of his players at full-time.
With the Mbappé era officially in the rear-view mirror, PSG are rewriting their story, not with marquee names, but with a cohesive, hungry squad that has reached Europe’s grandest stage.
One step from history, they now turn their focus to Inter Milan and the pursuit of their first Champions League crown.
