Arsenal Exit Champions League After 2-1 Defeat to PSG in Semi-Final Thriller

Arsenal’s Champions League dreams were dashed on Wednesday night following a narrow 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their semi-final clash at the Parc des Princes.

Coming into the match with a 1-0 deficit from the first leg, the Gunners looked determined to turn the tide against a PSG side widely regarded as Europe’s most in-form team. The North London club started brightly, with early chances forcing Gianluigi Donnarumma into a string of top-class saves to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard.

Despite Arsenal’s early pressure, it was PSG who broke the deadlock against the run of play. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck the post in the 17th minute before Fabian Ruiz found the net 11 minutes later, putting the hosts in firm control with a 2-0 aggregate lead.

Arsenal’s response came through Bukayo Saka, whose curling effort midway through the second half was acrobatically stopped by the standout Donnarumma. A controversial VAR decision soon followed as Myles Lewis-Skelly was judged to have handled the ball in the box, though Vitinha’s weak penalty was saved by David Raya.

The Gunners' reprieve was short-lived. A defensive lapse from Thomas Partey allowed Achraf Hakimi to curl home PSG’s second of the night in the 73rd minute. But Arsenal were not done—just three minutes later, Saka tapped in from a Leandro Trossard cross, giving the visitors a glimmer of hope.

The moment that could have changed everything came in the 80th minute, when Saka, unmarked, fired over from close range. It proved to be Arsenal’s final chance as PSG held firm to secure a place in the final.

Celebrations erupted in Paris as the Ligue 1 giants, backed by their Qatari ownership, moved one step closer to a maiden Champions League title. They now set their sights on the final in Munich against Inter Milan on May 31. The Italian side advanced after a pulsating 7-6 aggregate win over Barcelona.

Post-match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed pride in his team’s effort under pressure and praised Donnarumma as the game’s defining figure. Midfielder Declan Rice described the loss as “gutting” but emphasized the squad’s determination to bounce back.