Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is set to face Inter Milan in the Champions League final after defeating Arsenal 2-1 in the semi-final second leg held at Parc des Princes on Thursday (AEST).
The match began with a 27th-minute goal from PSG midfielder Fabian Ruiz, who capitalised on a free kick conceded by Arsenal’s Declan Rice in a precarious location. Arsenal managed to defend the initial set piece, but Ruiz skillfully manoeuvred to strike with precision, sending the ball into the top right corner after a deflection off William Saliba. Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster praised the goal as “a beautiful finish,” despite acknowledging the fortuitous deflection.
PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was impressive throughout, notably saving a penalty from Vitinha, which kept Arsenal’s hopes alive. However, just minutes later, Achraf Hakimi extended PSG’s lead to 2-0 with a stunning curling shot, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Arsenal found a ray of hope when Bukayo Saka netted their first goal in the tie in the 76th minute, but the damage had already been done.
Saka missed a golden opportunity to equalise shortly after, firing over the goal with an open net before a series of brilliant saves from Donnarumma secured PSG’s advancement. With a 1-0 win in the first leg in London, PSG progressed with a 3-1 aggregate.
The final will take place on June 1 in Munich, where PSG aims for their first Champions League title after previously losing in the 2020 final to Bayern Munich. Despite recent setbacks, including losing star striker Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid and the absence of in-form Ousmane Dembele due to injury, PSG demonstrated their dominance. Australian football icon Mark Bosnich believes that PSG’s current solid team outweighs individual star power, suggesting they will prove too formidable for Inter.
Arsenal, conversely, faces another season without silverware, despite a commendable second-place finish in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s squad has struggled in terms of scoring, highlighted by the fact that their top scorer, Kai Havertz, has only nine goals, compared to Brentford, whose three players have surpassed ten. This lack of clinical finishing means that while Arsenal has showcased excellent play, their tally reflects a broader issue in converting chances into goals.