Paris Saint-Germain beats Arsenal 2-1 to make the Champions League final, setting up showdown with Inter Milan

• PSG earns ticket to Champions League final: Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate to earn a date against Inter Milan in the final in Munich’s Allianz Arena. Les Parisiens move on but Arsenal didn’t go out quietly.

• The greatest Champions League tie ever? In one of the best soccer matches you will ever see, Inter Milan shocked Barcelona in a seesaw game that went to extra-time, with the Nerazzurri earning a ticket to the final on May 31.

Is this the year Paris Saint-Germain finally wins the Champions League, the trophy its fans and Qatari owners have craved for years?

Luis Enrique’s side earned a hard fought 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, winning 3-1 on aggregate to reach the final for only the second time in club history.

After a tight first leg was decided by “small margins,” as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described it, PSG came back to the City of Light with a slender 1-0 lead to defend.

After weathering an early sustained period of Arsenal pressure, PSG took the lead on 27 minutes thanks to Fabián Ruiz’s stunning half-volley.

There was again little to separate the two sides on the night, but PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma proved to be the difference.

The Italian pulled off a couple of stunning saves in the first half to main PSG’s lead, the second from a Martin Ødegaard shot was particularly special and could rival Yann Sommer’s save from Lamine Yamal last night as the save of the tournament.

Les Parisiens managed the game well in the second half and kept Arsenal at arm’s length – but mostly Donnarumma’s arm. The 26-year-old pulled off his third stunning save of the night in the second half to keep out Bukayo Saka’s goal-bound effort.

David Raya then kept Arsenal’s hopes alive with a brilliant save from a questionable Vitinha penalty, which had been awarded for handball against Miles Lewis-Skelly after a VAR review.

But Achraf Hakimi pounced on PSG’s first chance from open play of the second half, curling a low effort into the bottom corner on 72 minutes after some soft Arsenal defending.

The Gunners responded quickly as Saka swept a loose ball into the net four minutes later to give the Londoners some hope.

And Saka should have set up a grand finale just moments later when Riccardo Calafiori’s low cross evaded Donnarumma, but the Arsenal forward somehow guided his effort over the crossbar with the entire goal at his mercy.

After the game, there was one person that both Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Declan Rice singled out for PSG’s win: Donnarumma.

Both said he was the “best player” across the tie. It’s hard to disagree.

Just like his manager, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice is devastated after falling at the final hurdle ahead of this year’s Champions League final.

He also saved special praise for PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma who was immense in both legs.

“It’s gutting. It was such a dominant start; if you score one of those chances in the first 15-20 minutes, the game completely changes on its head,” Rice said.

“That’s the small margins in football. It felt like it wasn’t meant to be. We’ve given it absolutely everything in this competition. Over the two legs, we could have scored three or four goals, but Donnarumma’s been unbelievable.”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta couldn’t hide his disappointment when speaking to TNT Sports after this defeat.

The Spaniard congratulated PSG for reaching the final but said it should have been his squad celebrating after the final whistle.

“The assessment, I will make when I’m a little bit cooler, but the feedback I got straight away from their bench is that we were much better than them,” he said.

“When you look at the two games, their best player on the pitch has been the goalkeeper. He’s made the difference for them in the tie.

“I think we were very close, much closer than the results showed, but unfortunately, we are out. I am very proud of the players, what we’ve done today, how we started, how we handled the pressure, the amount of pressure after 20 minutes it should be 3-0.

“But, yeah, there is something extra that you need in the competition to go your way and it didn’t.”

Penny for Kylian Mbappé’s thoughts?

The superstar left Paris Saint-Germain for Real Madrid last year in the search of winning continental glory in the form of the Champions League, but the striker and Los Blancos have come up blank in Spain this season.

Meanwhile, PSG boss Luis Enrique has molded this young, energetic and talented squad into the title favorite for this tournament.

The Spanish coach has seen plenty of success since joining the French club in 2023, including two league titles in two years. He won the domestic treble last year and is just one game away from completing a more impressive treble this season. If he wins the Champions League and Coupe de France this season, he would join Pep Guardiola as the only two managers ever to win two trebles.

Enrique is considered one of the best coaches in world soccer, but his career hasn’t always been so straightforward.

In 2019, when head coach of Spain’s national team, Enrique suffered unimaginable heartbreak after the death of his nine-year-old daughter.

After taking a break from soccer, he rebuilt himself and is now on the verge of creating history with PSG.

Worth remembering that PSG only finished in 15th position in the league phase of the Champions League’s new format.

That somewhat underwhelming league phase included a defeat to Arsenal.

And now, they have been installed as the bookmakers favorite to defeat Inter Milan in Munich on May 31 and win their first ever Champions League.

As a watching Sir Alex Ferguson would have said, “Football, bloody hell.”

A penny for Arsenal’s thoughts?

Not only is their next match away to the newly crowned champions of England’s Premier League, Liverpool, but the expectation is that the Gunners will give the Reds a guard of honor this Sunday.

In a parallel universe, Liverpool vs. Arsenal could have been a title decider. At this point, the North Londoners are simply hoping to consolidate second place in the table.

Oh and also, there’s the prospect of a terrible Tottenham Hotspur side, who could legitimately finish the season in 17th place in the Premier League, winning a major trophy in the Europa League. Winning that competition would also result in Arsenal’s North London rivals playing Champions League football next season.

It all might mean the entire Arsenal fanbase goes into hibernation for the summer.

Il y a une fête à Paris! Party time in Paris!

There is a real connection between this PSG team and its supporters and both groups are celebrating wildly after reaching the Champions League final.

The players are all gathered behind the goal and are dancing to the songs being sung from the stands, as fireworks and flares go off all around.

PSG captain Marquinhos is the one leading the celebrations and jumped in with the fans at one point.

Manager Luis Enrique is also lapping up the adulation and cannot stop smiling.

Great scenes after what was an impressive semifinal performance from this youthful side.

There we have it – the Champions League final is set.

Paris Saint-Germain will take on Inter Milan in Munich, Germany on May 31 after the French giant ended Arsenal’s hopes with a 2-1 win in the second leg, 3-1 on aggregate.

Fabián Ruiz’s stunning half-volley gave PSG a first-half lead on the night, before Achraf Hakimi made it 2-0 on 72 minutes.

Bukayo Saka pulled a goal back for Arsenal just four minutes later, but the Englishman missed a glaring open goal soon after that would have really set up a blockbuster finale.

Despite sustained Arsenal pressure to close the game, PSG defended resolutely to reach only the second Champions League final in the club’s history.

After the heartbreak of losing in the final to Bayern Munich in 2020, this PSG team will be feeling confident of going one better this time around.

Arsenal, however, has endured yet more Parisian heartbreak. The Gunners lost 2-1 to Barcelona at the Stade de France in the 2006 Champions League final.

Nearly 20 years on, at the Parc des Princes, the north London club is sunk by the same scoreline on the night.

Just five minutes of added time left in this game and Arsenal still needs to find two goals.

The Gunners have been better in the last 15 minutes, but you feel that Bukayo Saka chance needed to have gone in to give them any real hope.

PSG needs to keep calm and not give Arsenal any encouragement.

Score: PSG 2-1 Arsenal (Aggregate: 3-1)

Oh dear, Bukayo Saka.

Just minutes after scoring, the Arsenal forward has a glorious chance to get another.

Riccardo Calafiori’s low cross misses Gianluigi Donnarumma’s outstretched arm to reach Saka, but he somehow skies the ball over the crossbar with the entire goal gaping in front of him.

Maybe there is hope here for Arsenal.

Bukayo Saka doesn’t give up and pounces on a loose ball to score for the visitors.

It wasn’t a pretty goal, but it is one that Arsenal really needed to give itself any sort of hope going into these last 10 minutes.

Score: PSG 2-1 Arsenal (Aggregate: 3-1)

This looks to be game over for Arsenal now.

There appear to be some tired Arsenal legs out there as some slack defending allows PSG to extend its aggregate lead.

Achraf Hakimi receives the ball just inside the penalty area and curls his effort past David Raya’s outstretched hand into the bottom corner.

There were a couple of weak challenges in there from William Saliba and Thomas Partey that allowed Hakimi the chance to shoot.

Score: PSG 2-0 Arsenal (Aggregate 3-0)

Vitinha has his penalty saved by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

It wasn’t a great effort from the midfielder, but Raya still got down well to tip it around the post.

It was a very harsh penalty, anyway, so maybe justice has been served.

Score: PSG 1-0 Arsenal (Aggregate 2-0)

VAR has given a penalty to PSG and it’s incredibly harsh on Arsenal.

It’s given because the ball hit Myles Lewis-Skelly’s hand in the box, but there was nothing the defender could realistically do.

It seems slightly unfair that Paris Saint-Germain is allowed to play a human wall in goal.

Gianluigi Donnarumma has just pulled off another stunning save – his third of the match – this time from Bukayo Saka, whose shot looked destined for the top corner.

Score: PSG 1-0 Arsenal (Aggregate: 2-0)

No major moments so far in this second half and that will suit PSG perfectly.

Arsenal needs to be taking more initiative but, if anything, it’s the host which is looking the most dangerous.

PSG’s star striker Ousmane Dembélé has also been out warming up on the touchline and was met by a huge roar from the home crowd.

He’s been brilliant so far this season and would be a huge threat if he was substituted on in this second half.

Score: PSG 1-0 Arsenal (Aggregate: 2-0)

The task for Arsenal in this second half is simple, but definitely not easy.

The north London club needs at least two goals to drag itself back into this tie, but will need more if PSG scores again.

We saw during yesterday’s semifinal that a two-goal lead can disappear in a matter of minutes and the Gunners will need to produce something equally as special in the City of Light.

Arsenal now has 45 minutes to do it.

Score: PSG 1-0 Arsenal (Aggregate: 2-0)

Arsenal fans, look away now.

• Possession: PSG 49%-51% Arsenal

• Attacks: PSG 8-37 Arsenal

• Total shots: PSG 5-8 Arsenal

• Goalkeeper saves: PSG 2-2 Arsenal

• Pass accuracy: PSG 79%-84% Arsenal

• Corners: PSG 1-3 Arsenal

• Yellowcards: PSG 1-1 Arsenal

• Distancecovered: PSG 56.9km-58.5km Arsenal

This has been a strange game, in truth.

Arsenal has been by far the more impressive team but will be the most disappointed going in at half-time.

Despite all their dominance, the Gunners have failed to find the back of the net and allowed PSG the chance to extend its aggregate lead through Fabián Ruiz’s stunning shot in the 27th minute.

Arsenal needs to score at least two goals in the second half and doesn’t have a recognizable striker on the pitch.

It’s a big ask, but not impossible.

Score: PSG 1-0 Arsenal (Aggregate 2-0)

If Arsenal is going to get back into this game, then it needs Bukayo Saka to do something special.

The attacker is undoubtedly his team’s best player and was having some joy against PSG’s Nuno Mendes until that goal.

Interestingly, Mendes picked up a yellow card earlier in this match which might prevent him from being too aggressive against Saka.

It will certainly be a vulnerability that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be aware of, especially as we go deeper in this game.

Score: PSG 1-0 Arsenal (Aggregate 2-0)