On May 7, 2025, Arsenal's Champions League aspirations ended in Paris as they were defeated 2-1 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final second leg, resulting in a 3-1 aggregate loss. Despite a valiant effort, the Gunners were unable to overturn the deficit from the first leg.
The match began with Arsenal asserting control, dominating possession and applying early pressure. However, PSG absorbed the onslaught and looked to hit on the counter. In the 4th minute, Gianluigi Donnarumma made an excellent save to deny Gabriel Martinelli, who had latched onto a long throw from Thomas Partey. Just four minutes later, Donnarumma was called into action again, this time keeping out a low strike from Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard. PSG nearly found the breakthrough in the 17th minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia curled a beautiful shot towards the top corner, only to be denied by the post.
The Parisians came close again on the break, as Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué broke forward, outpacing William Saliba and Lewis Skelly. Barcola played a perfect pass to Doué, but the latter’s weak shot from inside the box was easily gathered. PSG eventually took the lead in the 27th minute, with Fabián Ruiz unleashing a stunning strike that deflected off Saliba and flew past Raya. Both sides continued to press, but PSG held firm, taking a 1-0 lead into the break.
Arsenal maintained their attacking pressure on PSG, with Bukayo Saka forcing a brilliant save from Donnarumma in the 64th minute. Just a minute later, Saka went down in the penalty area appealing for a handball, but the referee waved play on. PSG immediately launched a counterattack, during which Achraf Hakimi cut inside from the left and took a shot that deflected off Lewis Skelly’s arm and into the path of goalkeeper David Raya. Following a VAR review, the referee was advised to check the incident on the monitor and subsequently awarded a penalty. Vitinha stepped up to take it, but Raya produced a crucial save to keep Arsenal’s hopes alive.
PSG refused to relent, and the introduction of Ousmane Dembélé signaled their intent. Just two minutes after coming on, Dembélé latched onto a brilliant pass from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and laid it off to Achraf Hakimi, who calmly slotted the ball into the net to make it 2-0. The goal was a devastating blow for Arsenal, leaving them 3-0 down on aggregate. Bukayo Saka pulled one back for the Gunners in the 76th minute, but it was too little, too late, as Arsenal struggled to find the energy to mount a serious comeback.
These were the managers reaction after the game:
Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed deep disappointment after his team's elimination, emphasizing that his players were emotionally affected by the loss. He highlighted the team's strong performance, particularly in the early stages of the match, stating that they deserved a better outcome.
"They were in tears," Arteta said, referring to his players' reactions post-match. "We had our chances, especially in the first 20 minutes, where we could have been 3-0 up. Donnarumma was outstanding for them."
Arteta also praised the progress his team has made over the past two years and expressed pride in their development, despite the setback. He acknowledged the need for elite players to make a difference in crucial moments and emphasized the importance of learning from this experience to achieve future success.
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
PSG manager Luis Enrique took responsibility for his team's performance, acknowledging that Arsenal was superior on the night. He admitted that his team struggled to cope with Arsenal's high-intensity pressing and failed to win key duels throughout the match.
"We won none of our duels," Enrique stated. "Their defenders completely anticipated our attackers. From the first minute, Arsenal were superior to us in the game."
Enrique also recognized the need for time to rebuild and improve his team, especially after the departure of key players. He emphasized the importance of addressing the issues highlighted in the match to enhance PSG's competitiveness in future European campaigns.
Arsenal held a slight edge in possession with 54.1% compared to PSG’s 45.9%, and they registered more total shots (19 to PSG’s 11), though the French side were more efficient with 6 shots on target versus Arsenal’s 4. The expected goals (xG) reflected Arsenal’s missed chances at 3.2 compared to PSG’s 2.87. Arsenal also completed passes with 80% accuracy, ahead of PSG’s 76%, and had more corners (6 to 2). Both teams committed 11 fouls, but Arsenal were shown 4 yellow cards while PSG received 2. No red cards were issued during the match, which was intense but fairly disciplined. Despite Arsenal’s statistical dominance in several areas, PSG’s clinical finishing proved decisive.
