PSG defeat Arsenal to set up UCL final against Inter

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has advanced into the final of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) following a 2-1 win over Arsenal in their semi-final second-leg tie at the Parc des Princes stadium.

The victory completed a 3-1 aggregate victory over the North London side, who dreamt of defeating PSG in Paris but only suffered heartbreak in the city of love.

Arsenal had Thomas Partey back in the line-up, the supposed missing piece in the first leg they lost 1-0 at the Emirates but the Ghanaian midfielder was involved in the moments that defined the night as Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi ensured it ended as a rough night for the visitors despite Bukayo Saka pulling a goal back.

PSG were under intense pressure from the first whistle, with crosses from the wing and Partey’s long throws. Gabriel Martinelli saw his shot in a crowded box saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, before Martin Odegaard’s low drive from the edge of the area was brilliantly pushed around the post by the Italian goalkeeper for a corner kick.

The Parisiens began to work their way back into the match through counter-attacks, and one such led to Kvicha Kvaratshkelia curling a shot onto the post, serving a dose of the danger Luis Enrique’s side can produce from their Arsenal.

The Gunners’ intensity dropped, signalling the home side to make further incursions into Arsenal’s territory, but Desire Doue could only fire straight at the goalkeeper when well placed to shoot in the box.

PSG then took the lead on 27 minutes when Ruiz collected Partey’s half clearance from a corner kick before lashing an unstoppable shot into the net for 1-0.

Both sides’ decision-making in the final third meant there was no other goal at halftime, with PSG having a two-goal aggregate advantage.

The second half came to life after the hour when Donnarumma produced another excellent save to deny Saka’s curling shot, while Hakimi had his deflected shot easily gathered by David Raya Arsenal goalkeeper. This, however, led to VAR drama, as the referee reviewed and awarded a penalty to PSG for handball by Myles Lewis-Skelly. Vitinha stepped up, but Raya saved his poor penalty to keep Arsenal’s hopes alive.

Ousmanne Dembele, scorer of the only goal in the first leg, came on as a substitute in the 70th minute and provided the assist for Hakimi to make it 2-0 with a well struck shot, sending spectators into celebration mode.

Saka would make fans tone down the celebration a notch when he gave Arsenal a glimmer of hope with a goal that halved the deficit on the night. Poor defending allowed a cross reach the winger of Nigerian heritage, and Saka slotted into the net at the second attempt for 2-1 on 76 minutes.

Chances continued to pour in, and Saka should have levelled the tie, but he shockingly missed the target with the goal gaping, while Dembele’s shot was comfortably saved by Raya, and Hakimi’s piledriver went just wide of the post.

PSG saw out the rest of the match to confirm their second UCL final in five years.

They will face Inter Milan in the final set for the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich on May 31.