Arsenal’s quest for their first-ever Champions League title came to a heartbreaking end on May 7, 2025, with a 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final second leg at Parc des Princes. The 3-1 aggregate loss sent PSG through to face Inter Milan in the final on May 31, while Arsenal were left to rue missed opportunities in a match that echoed their 2006 final defeat to Barcelona, oddly in the same city.
A Bright Start Fades
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Mikel Arteta’s side began with intensity, a stark contrast to their cautious approach at the Emirates. Within three minutes, Declan Rice’s header narrowly missed Gianluigi Donnarumma’s post. Thomas Partey’s long throws caused chaos, one finding Gabriel Martinelli, whose shot was comfortably saved. Martin Ødegaard then tested Donnarumma with a long-range strike, only for the PSG goalkeeper to produce a stunning one-handed save.
For the opening 15 minutes, Arsenal dominated, pinning back a PSG side missing key player Ousmane Dembélé, who was only fit for the bench. However, PSG issued a warning when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s curling effort struck David Raya’s post.
PSG Strike and Controversy
The tide turned in the 27th minute. A foul by Rice on Kvaratskhelia led to a set-piece, and Partey’s clearance fell to Fabian Ruiz. The midfielder controlled the ball with his chest, evaded Martinelli, and fired a shot that deflected off William Saliba to beat Raya. Arsenal’s early promise unravelled, and PSG grew in confidence.
The hosts nearly sealed the tie when Myles Lewis-Skelly’s errant pass allowed Kvaratskhelia to set up Bradley Barcola. Rice’s last-ditch tackle weakened Barcola’s shot, enabling Raya to save. Later, a controversial VAR decision saw PSG awarded a penalty after Hakimi’s shot grazed Lewis-Skelly’s hand. Referee Felix Zwayer’s quick call seemed harsh, but Vitinha’s spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Raya, keeping Arsenal’s hopes alive.
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Hakimi’s Decisive Blow
The reprieve was short-lived. In the 72nd minute, Partey’s failure to clear allowed Achraf Hakimi to fire a low shot into the bottom corner, making it 2-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate. Arsenal’s task now seemed insurmountable.
A glimmer of hope emerged four minutes later when substitute Leandro Trossard’s tenacity led to a goal. After Marquinhos slipped, Trossard fed Bukayo Saka, who rounded Donnarumma to score. With 10 minutes remaining, Saka had a golden chance to pull Arsenal within one goal on aggregate, but he blazed over from close range after Ricardo Calafiori’s pinpoint pass. The miss extinguished Arsenal’s faint hopes of a comeback.
PSG’s Premier League Dominance
PSG’s victory marked their third consecutive win over Premier League sides in this season’s Champions League, having previously dispatched Liverpool and Aston Villa. Their blend of attacking flair, led by Kvaratskhelia and Barcola, and defensive resilience proved too much for Arsenal, who couldn’t capitalise on their early dominance.
Reflections on Arsenal’s Campaign
For Arsenal, the defeat stings as their only chance at silverware this season slips away. The parallels to their 2006 final loss in Paris add to the disappointment for the north London club. Despite moments of brilliance from Rice, Saka, and Ødegaard, defensive lapses and missed opportunities defined their semi-final exit.
PSG, meanwhile, march on to the final, their sights set on claiming the Champions League trophy. For Arsenal, the focus shifts to regrouping and building on a campaign that showed promise but fell short at the crucial moment.
