Paris Saint-Germain will join Inter Milan in the Champions League final after beating Arsenal at the Parc des Princes. The Gunners mounted a valiant assault on the night, coming quick out of the gates, but failed to capitalise on their early pressure, quickly running out of steam as they allowed PSG back into the tie.
Fabian Ruiz would open the scoring with a half hour played, selling Gabriel Martinelli with a deft dummy before rocketing a volley beyond David Raya courtesy of a deflection off William Saliba. Achraf Hakimi would add a second after the break to put PSG three clear in the aggregate.
Bukayo Saka pulled one back with less than 20 minutes left to play, but missed a gilt-edged chance to take Arsenal within one moments later. From there, Arsenal were all but beaten. Mikel Arteta said he considered Arsenal to be the best team in the competition this year, but he will have to wait until next year to mount another attempt at the trophy. Follow PSG vs Arsenal live below, with expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Simon Collings and Malik Ouzia at the Parc des Princes.
PSG vs Arsenal highlights
- Saka misses sitter after scoring during lively finish
- GOAL! Saka effort stands after Trossard and Marquinhos battle
- GOAL! Hakimi curls in after Partey dispossessed
- Raya saves Vitinha penalty after Lewis-Skelly handball
- GOAL! Ruiz stunner doubles PSG's aggregate lead
- Kvaratskhelia hits the post for PSG after Arsenal dominance
Player Ratings from Simon Collings
22:42 , Arthur FerridgeStandard Sport’s Simon Collings was at the Parc des Princes tonight and has offered his assessment on the Arsenal players’ performance.
Another thrilling Champions League night
22:41 , Arthur FerridgeThey gave it their all, but it wasn’t meant to be for Arsenal tonight. They exit the Champions League in the semi-finals.
Catch up on all the drama right here.
FULL TIME: PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg)
21:56 , Arthur FerridgeThe referee’s whistle blows to bring Arsenal’s Champions League campaign to a bitter end. It is PSG who will face Inter Milan in the final.
PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg)
21:53 , Arthur Ferridge90+3mins: Trossard gets into a great shooting position but his effort is blocked. Partey is presented another opportunity for a long throw, which Donnarumma collects.
PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg)
21:50 , Arthur Ferridge90mins: Five minutes are added.
PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg)
21:48 , Arthur Ferridge89mins: Thomas Partey is doing everything in his power to keep Arsenal in the conversation here, but they can’t quite find the crucial goal, of which they require two.
PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg)
21:47 , Arthur Ferridge86mins: A promising PSG attack ends in handbags as Calafiori and Kvaratskhelia square up to one another. Both are booked for their involvement.
Saka is added to the book presumably for simulation moments later, having gone down a little too easily under pressure from Hernandez.
PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg)
21:42 , Arthur Ferridge82mins: Hakimi shoots from a considerable distance, around 30 yards, and gets good power behind his effort but cannot get it on target.
PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg)
21:41 , Arthur Ferridge81mins: Dembele’s turn to shoot this time, but the injury rust is still apparent as his effort is directionless and palmed away by Raya.
Ben White is being readied to come on for Arsenal.
PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg)
21:39 , Arthur Ferridge80mins: A huge miss from Saka! He shoots at an open goal from the edge of the six yard box, but it sits up awkwardly for him and he launches it over the bar.
Malik Ouzia at the Parc des Princes
21:39 , Arthur FerridgeDonnarumma is going absolutely crazy and rightly so. PSG have bizarrely decided to just stop contesting those long balls to Merino in the last few minutes and he’s just knocking them straight down to teammates.
PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg)
21:38 , Arthur Ferridge79mins: PSG looking a lot more nervous now, you’d have to say.
GOAL! PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg)
21:36 , Arthur Ferridge76mins: Saka pulls one back for Arsenal! Marquinhos softly goes down as he battles Trossard and looks for the foul.
The Belgian finds Saka in the area - his first shot is blocked but he follows up immediately after to tap home.
The deficit stands at two with 15 minutes left.
GOAL! PSG 2-0 Arsenal (3-0 agg)
21:33 , Arthur Ferridge72mins: Moments after the penalty save, Hakimi fires home to put the tie to bed!
He picks Partey’s pocket and places his effort just out of Raya’s reach.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:30 , Arthur Ferridge71mins: In the background of that drama, Dembele has subbed on for Barcola.
Simon Collings at the Parc des Princes
21:29 , Arthur FerridgeJustice for Arsenal, there. That was such a harsh penalty.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:29 , Arthur Ferridge69mins: Raya saves it! A worse penalty you may never see - Vitinha walks up to the ball and rolls it at goal with no pace whatsoever. Raya keeps it out with relative ease.
He could have put the tie to bed there - wasteful, but justice done, you could argue.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:28 , Arthur Ferridge69mins: Arsenal make changes first - Calafiori and Trossard for Lewis-Skelly and Martinelli.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:27 , Arthur Ferridge68mins: After much complaining and questioning of the referee, Vitinha lines up his pen.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:26 , Arthur Ferridge66mins: Penalty to PSG! Hakimi’s shot on the counterattack about five minutes ago clips Lewis-Skelly’s hand on the way through. Nobody, defender or attacker, seemed to know anything about it until VAR raised the issue.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:25 , Arthur Ferridge66mins: The referee is going to the monitor to check a potential handball. Could this be a penalty for PSG?
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:24 , Arthur Ferridge65mins: Saka goes over in the box from the corner, but the referee is having none of it.
Hakimi’s shot on the counter is deflected, but Raya reacted in time.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:23 , Arthur Ferridge63mins: Rory Delap would be immensely proud of Thomas Partey’s long throws. They have created Arsenal’s best chances of the night.
Saka whips a curling effort at goal, but Donnarumma at full towering stretch tips it away.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:21 , Arthur Ferridge61mins: Arsenal’s period of sustained pressure ends as Merino overhits a through ball behind.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:20 , Arthur Ferridge60mins: Odegaard puts a tidy cross into the area from a free kick, but it is that man again, Donnarumma, to deny. His massive wingspan is preventing Arsenal’s greatest weapon: The set piece.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:18 , Arthur Ferridge58mins: Second corner is headed behind by Timber.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:17 , Arthur Ferridge58mins: Saka drops the corner right on Donnarumma’s head, and he puts it behind for another corner.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:17 , Arthur Ferridge57mins: Saka’s shot looks promising but is put behind by Mendes for an Arsenal corner.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:16 , Arthur Ferridge57mins: Vitinha does fantastically well to get around the outside of Timber and Partey with some silky footwork, but Saliba’s intervention prevents his cross.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:15 , Arthur Ferridge56mins: Lewis-Skelly is booked for a foul on Barcola.
Simon Collings at the Parc des Princes
21:14 , Arthur FerridgeI do fear, here, about how much Arsenal have in the tank. They pressed relentlessly in the first half and this is, basically, the same group of players that have played all season.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:1354mins: Mendes drives down the left flank and finds Doue, who attempts a cheeky shot at goal- but misses wide. PSG have started the second half much better than they did the first.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:11 , Arthur Ferridge52mins: Vitinha’s delivery is poor, and Raya collects.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:11 , Arthur Ferridge51mins: Another Arsenal foul means PSG have another set piece in a similar area to that which they scored from in the first half.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:09 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Dembele has been sent to warm up, to big cheers from the home fans.
Saka is fit to continue.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:09 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Saka is down under a tackle from Nuno Mendes and is slow to get up. He looks to be in some discomfort.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:07 , Arthur Ferridge48mins: It should really go without saying, but the next goal will settle this tie. If Arsenal are to come back, they need a goal with some urgency.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:06 , Arthur Ferridge47mins: PSG level the first assault of the half, combining nicely on the right flank to set Hakimi up for a cross, but nobody can get on the end of it.
Simon Collings at the Parc des Princes
21:04 , Arthur FerridgeArsenal need to start this second half like Barcelona did last night.
SECOND HALF: PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
21:04We are back underway!
No changes for either side.
HALF TIME: PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:49 , Arthur FerridgeThat does it for the opening period - Fabian Ruiz’s stunning volley is the difference on the night and it has the home side two to the good with 45 minutes remaining.
Arsenal have been the better team, but have not been able to capitalise on their pressure.
Malik Ouzia at the Parc des Princes
20:48 , Arthur FerridgeBukayo Saka has his arms aloft in disbelief. It was so obvious for a good few seconds where he was going to have to put that cross but no one made the run.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:48 , Arthur Ferridge45+1mins: Saka has done the same thing every time he gets on the ball - drives to the byline, cuts a cross back. The latest effort runs across the six-yard box, but there is no red shirt to meet it.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:4745mins: Two minutes added on.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:46 , Arthur Ferridge45mins: Lewis-Skelly catches Doue’s shot in the ribs and is down, apparently winded. Understandable, to be fair.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:45 , Arthur Ferridge44mins: Raya plays a stunning pass upfield to Saka, who cuts inside and looks to square a ball back into the area, but PSG clear.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:44 , Arthur Ferridge43mins: Merino throws himself at another cross in the box, but can’t quite reach it. Arsenal’s lack of cutting edge is starting to glare.
Simon Collings at the Parc des Princes
20:43 , Arthur FerridgeJorginho has been 'warming up' for the whole half. Basically stood on the touchline barking out orders. An extra coach, basically.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:43 , Arthur Ferridge42mins: Timber is the latest Gunner to put a cross in the mixer but Pacho was unchallenged as he cleared.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:39 , Arthur Ferridge38mins: Kvaratskhelia tries to pick his way through the Arsenal box and beats two men, but three is too many.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:38 , Arthur Ferridge37mins: Rice shoots from the edge of the box, but Pacho is there to block his effort. A deflected cross then falls to Timber, whose effort is duly denied by Kvaratskhelia.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:37 , Arthur Ferridge36mins: Saka wins the ball near the halfway line and drives at goal. He dishes it wide to Rice, whose touch is clumsy and he is dispossessed.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:3634mins: Impressive to see how PSG have grown into this. Who would have thought they would be leading at the half-hour mark after the opening exchanges?
Simon Collings at the Parc des Princes
20:34 , Arthur FerridgeA bit of a familiar story for Arsenal, so far - creating chances, but lacking that ruthless edge.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:3432mins: Arsenal’s choking press is loosening somewhat - they look understandably frustrated to have conceded.
Malik Ouzia at the Parc des Princes
20:32 , Arthur FerridgeMyles Lewis-Skelly has done that two or three times already.
He’s a risk taker inherently but he has to be more sensible here given a) how many men Arsenal are committing forward and b) that another goal completely kills the tie.
PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:31 , Arthur Ferridge30mins: No change in Arsenal’s approach to this match - it is still all action.
But PSG come back on the counter through Kvaratskhelia and Barcola’s shot is denied by Raya - a reaction save equal to any of those produced by Donnarumma earlier this evening. He was helped by the late arriving Declan Rice, who slid in to take some sting out of the shot.
Corner to PSG.
Malik Ouzia at the Parc des Princes
20:30 , Arthur FerridgeYou just knew that Arsenal were playing with fire in not taking advantage of that brilliant start. That said, it’s an unbelievable hit to punish them.
Simon Collings at the Parc des Princes
20:30 , Arthur FerridgeWow, fair play. That is an outrageous goal.
GOAL! PSG 1-0 Arsenal (agg 2-0)
20:29 , Arthur Ferridge27mins: PSG lead on the night and double their lead in the tie! Fabian Ruiz fires home on the volley from the edge of the box after Kvaratskhelia’s free kick. You may never see another goal more against the run of play than that.
It is not a deserved lead for PSG, but Arsenal have been punished for not taking their chances.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:27 , Arthur Ferridge25mins: Rice is booked for a late challenge on Kvaratskhelia. That is a free kick to PSG in a dangerous area.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:25 , Arthur Ferridge24mins: Role reversal - Mendes is fouled by Saka.
Malik Ouzia at Parc des Princes
20:25 , Arthur FerridgeI thought we’d do well to match last night but if both teams had taken their chances it could easily be 3-2 already.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:24 , Arthur Ferridge23mins: It is a poor attack from PSG. Saliba loses the ball to Barcola in his own half, who plays in Doue, but he cannot get enough power or proper placement behind his shot.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:23 , Arthur Ferridge22mins: The corner comes to nothing, but Arsenal come straight back at PSG through Merino, whose ball into the box is collected by Donnarumma.
Simon Collings at the Parc des Princes
20:23 , Arthur FerridgeArsenal are pressing PSG so high up the pitch. Partey is almost in the final third at times.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:22 , Arthur Ferridge21mins: A great run from Odegaard, who glides right through the PSG lines. He finds Martinelli, who wins a corner.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:21 , Arthur Ferridge20mins: Lewis-Skelly does wonderfully to put a stop to Hakimi’s counter-attack. This match has been relentless action so far.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:2019mins: Nuno Mendes trips Saliba and goes into the book. A long evening awaits him.
Malik Ouzia at the Parc des Princes
20:19 , Arthur FerridgeThat could be a key moment. Timber’s positioning seems to have surprised PSG and Arsenal have had joy through him and Saka down that flank. Now Mendes is on a yellow with a long way to go.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:18 , Arthur Ferridge17mins: That came from nowhere! Kvaratskhelia and Doue combine tidily, and the Georgian rattles the upright with a curling effort.
The fact this match is still 0-0 is, frankly, shocking.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:17 , Arthur Ferridge15mins: PSG finally manage to string a few passes together, but they are suffocated by Arsenal’s press.
This begs two questions: How long can Arsenal maintain this press, and how long can PSG cope with it?
Simon Collings at the Parc des Princes
20:16 , Arthur FerridgeLuis Enrique - it will not shock you - is not happy. Waving his hands around non stop and trying his best to direct traffic.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:15 , Arthur Ferridge14mins: Partey with another long throw. That makes five in the early stages and all have asked questions of the PSG defence, but none have posed too big a threat.
Malik Ouzia at Parc des Princes
20:14 , Arthur FerridgeMikel Arteta said it took Arsenal 20 or 25 minutes to figure PSG out at the Emirates and make the tactical tweak required to get into the game. It’s the French side who have the problem here, though. They cannot get out.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:1312mins: Hakimi goes down easily after Martinelli hits him from behind, but the ref isn’t having it. Thomas Partey launches another long throw into the box but it is cleared away again.
Could hardly have been a more nervous start for the PSG faithful.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:12 , Arthur Ferridge11mins: PSG make a rare attack but Hakimi’s low cross for Doue is underhit and misplaced. Raya collects.
Malik Ouzia at the Parc des Princes
20:11 , Arthur FerridgeArsenal conceded a terrible goal from a long throw against Bournemouth on the weekend but they’ve almost scored from two here.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:1110mins: Donnarumma looks fit to continue, and he is immediately made to defend a corner, which Ruiz clumsily clears away.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:10 , Arthur Ferridge8mins: Another stunning save from Donnarumma! Odegaard fires an effort at goal with impressive power but the big Italian gets down to it.
He seems to have hurt himself in the process, though, and the backup Safonov is warming up.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:09 , Arthur Ferridge7mins: Donnarumma swats the corner away from danger.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:08 , Arthur Ferridge7mins: Martinelli gets the better of Hakimi, but the Moroccan recovers to put the ball out for a corner.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:07 , Arthur Ferridge6mins: Saka is fouled by Nuno Mendes to put an Arsenal attack to an early stop. PSG look a little rattled by the Gunners’ onslaught.
Malik Ouzia at the Parc des Princes
20:06 , Arthur FerridgeIt could hardly be more opposite to the way the two sides started at the Emirates, with one exception - Arsenal haven’t taken either of their two huge chances.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:06 , Arthur Ferridge4mins: Partey heaves a long throw into the area and Martinelli turns it goalwards from close range, but Donnarumma gets down to it incredibly quickly. A really strong start from Arsenal.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:04 , Arthur Ferridge3mins: Saliba goes on an exploratory run, spinning Fabian Ruiz to start an Arsenal attack. Saka gets a good cross in the mixer for Rice, but he heads just wide. Fantastic opportunity to go ahead early for the Gunners.
Simon Collings at the Parc des Princes
20:02 , Arthur FerridgeLooks like Barcola as the No9, but I suspect that front-three will rotate a lot.
PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:02 , Arthur Ferridge1mins: Arsenal press high off the bat and Saka goes forward, but Nuno Mendes is equal to him.
KICK OFF: PSG 0-0 Arsenal (agg 1-0)
20:01 , Arthur FerridgeWe are UNDERWAY at the Parc des Princes!
Malik Ouzia at Parc des Princes
20:01 , Arthur FerridgeTheres a change of ends at kick-off and Arsenal use the opportunity to go right over to the corner where the away fans are and hold their pre-match huddle. Briefly, you can hear them, but then the pyro gets going in the home end and they’re silenced again.
Simon Collings at Parc des Princes
19:59 , Arthur FerridgeThis is about half the size of the Bernabeu, but just as loud.
The players are out
19:57A massive pyrotechnic show goes off, the Champions League anthem rings out.
Nothing quite like it on a Wednesday night.
Kick off comes next.
Simon Collings at Parc des Princes
19:55 , Arthur FerridgeA banner in one of the stands reads: "55 years of history behind you, write history". Or so my GCSE French thinks.
Malik Ouzia at Parc des Princes
19:54 , Arthur FerridgeThat PSG tifo is impressive. It’s actually two different banners that they’ve managed to line up perfectly across the two tiers to look as if it’s one covering the full stand.
Malik Ouzia at Parc des Princes
19:52 , Arthur FerridgeJust watching the Arsenal shooting drill and Gabriel Martinelli has curled a couple of lovely finishes into the far corner from exactly the position he was denied by Donnarumma last week.
Almost time to go...
19:50 , Arthur FerridgeKick off is just ten minutes away.
In case you missed it
19:47 , Arthur FerridgeTonight’s tie will decide who gets to face Inter Milan in the final in Munich later this month.
Last night at the San Siro, Inter Milan beat Barcelona 4-3 (7-6) to establish themselves as this season’s first finalist.
Raphinha had scored to Barcelona ahead 3-2 with 88 minutes on the clock with what appeared to be the winner, but Francesco Acerbi would equalise five minutes later to force extra time. Davide Frattesi would put Inter ahead in the first half of extra-time to confirm their progression.
Can Arsenal and PSG produce the same fireworks tonight?
Away fans out in force
19:40 , Arthur FerridgeMuch was made of the atmosphere at the Emirates in the first leg. The travelling support will hope to offer their side similar inspiration tonight, but will have to outsing PSG’s formidable ultras.
Can Saka do better in the second leg?
19:33 , Arthur FerridgeIf one player went missing for Arsenal in the first leg, it was their star winger, Bukayo Saka. He was effectively neutralised by Nuno Mendes at the Emirates, and the same matchup is due to take place tonight.
If Arsenal want to turn this tie around, they will need him to produce more threat. Time will tell whether he has learned any lessons from that performance.
How important is Dembele's absence?
19:25 , Arthur FerridgeOusmane Dembele is PSG’s top scorer in all competitions this season and scored the crucial goal which put the Parisians ahead in the first leg.
He had been suffering with an injury and was thought to be fit enough to start tonight, but has only made the bench.
PSG shouldn’t miss a beat, though. They could do far worse than Bardley Barcola for a substitute, and Desire Doue playing through the middle is certain to cause problems for the Gunners.
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