PSG Crush Arsenal to Secure Champions League Final Spot

PSG survived an early Arsenal storm to advance to the Champions League final with a 2-1 second-leg win on Wednesday. Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi scored to win 3-1 on aggregate, while Gianluigi Donnarumma made crucial stops to keep Arsenal at bay.

PSG, under coach Luis Enrique, have become a cohesive squad five years after losing to Bayern Munich in the final. They will play Inter Milan in Munich on May 31 after Inter Milan defeated Barcelona 7-6 in a vintage encounter in the other semi-final.

As Arsenal started well, Donnarumma made two world-class stops before Ruiz hit a stunning shot and Hakimi sealed the deal in the second half. Vitinha missed a second-half penalty, but the French champs never panicked and won with inevitability even after Bukayo Saka equalised 14 minutes from time.

Saka sent a magnificent shot over the crossbar as Arsenal tried to reach their first Champions League final since 2006. Luis Enrique rested Ousmane Dembele when he returned to training on Monday after a muscle issue in the first leg, while Mikel Merino played as a false nine.

Arsenal started quickly, with Declan Rice’s effort nearly missing Donnarumma’s right post after three minutes. After saving Gabriel Martinelli’s low shot, the Italian custodian made an amazing, leaping save to stop Martin Odegaard’s half-volley from the edge of the area.

PSG threatened on the break after long spells without possession. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s curling shot hit the post, while Desire Doue wasted a fantastic opportunity by shooting straight at David Raya.

PSG scored against the flow of play in the 27th minute. Thomas Partey mishandled a defensive header from a set-piece, sending the ball to Ruiz, who took an amazing touch and fired a ferocious shot past Raya to delight the home crowd.

The Spanishman scored his first Champions League goal in 46 games. Against Saka in the 64th minute, Donnarumma saved with his fingertips. After Myles Lewis-Skelly handballed Hakimi’s strike in the 69th minute, Vitinha’s weak penalty allowed Raya to save.

Hakimi then beat the Arsenal keeper in the 72nd minute after a one-two with Dembele, who had just come off the bench, to seal the win. After Jakub Kiwior’s pass deflected off a defender, Saka scored four minutes later from a close angle, but his shocking miss minutes later sealed PSG’s win.