By Samuel A. May 8, 2025
Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League by imperious PSG after a 3-1 aggregate defeat in their semifinal encounter. The Gunners went into the match 1-0 down after being edged out by the French side in London in the first leg of the tie with the lone goal coming from Ousmane Dembele, who has been unstoppable since the start of the year.
Arsenal began Wednesday’s clash hoping for a comeback against the team many rate as the best in Europe at the moment, and made a relatively strong start. PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was forced to make some remarkable early saves to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hit the post for the hosts in the 17th minute, before Fabian Ruiz’s strike found the back of the net barely 11 minutes later. This came against the run of play and left the visitors with an even more daunting task in the French capital, as they now needed two goals just to get level on aggregate.
Bukayo Saka’s shot midway through the second half looked to be curling into the top corner but was also kept out by PSG’s on form Italian keeper.
Moments later, Arsenal looked to have been dealt a killer blow when VAR showed the hand of Myles Lewis-Skelly had brushed the ball in the box. It appeared a harsh decision, but a strange run-up and weak penalty by Vitinha was kept out by David Raya.
The tempo from Arsenal lasted only a few moments after that huge penalty save for the Gunners, as Thomas Partey failed to clear a loose ball and Achraf Hakimi whipped a lovely finish into the corner in the 73rd minute. Home fans celebrated what seemed like an untouchable three goal lead, but three minutes later, Saka put Arsenal back in it when he knocked in a cross from Leandro Trossard. Saka then had a huge chance in the 80th minute to make it 2-2 and set up a grandstand finish, but blazed the ball over from close range. PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium erupted at the whistle as the French side and its Qatari owned team dream of an elusive first Champions League trophy.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said he was proud of how his players performed under the pressure and that opposition keeper Donnarumma was the best player and had made a difference in the match.
Midfielder Declan Rice told reporters it was “gutting” to be out “after such a dominant start” but promised the players would “keep pushing”.
PSG can now look forward to a trip to Munich for the final against Inter Milan on 31 May.
