PARIS, France — Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) faced off in a critical UEFA Champions League semifinal, second leg on May 7, 2025, at the Parc des Princes. Arsenal needed a comeback after losing the first leg 1-0 at home. With PSG holding the advantage, Gunners were under immense pressure to overturn the deficit.
Arsenal’s hopes were briefly rekindled when Bukayo Saka equalized in the 76th minute, making the score 3-1 on aggregate. Despite the late rally, it wasn’t enough to secure their place in the final.
“If you want to be in the Champions League final, you have to do something special. We’re going to have to do something special in Paris to be there,” Mikel Arteta said prior to the match, emphasizing the high stakes of the encounter.
PSG’s Achraf Hakimi opened the scoring with a brilliant goal in the 72nd minute, putting his team ahead 2-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate. This goal effectively crushed Arsenal’s hopes when the Gunners had attempted to push for the equalizer. “We need to match our performance as closely as possible in the first leg to win,” PSG manager Luis Enrique emphasized, highlighting his strategy for the match.
PSG’s first leg saw Ousmane Dembélé, who was a key figure, scoring the only goal. He returned to action for the second leg, boosting PSG’s offense. “Every match is important, and nothing is won until the final whistle,” Dembélé stated. The anticipation was palpable as fans awaited the collision of two European titans.
Thomas Partey was set to make an impactful return for Arsenal after serving a suspension, which added to Arsenal’s already tantalizing squad. Yet, the Gunners’ history in semifinals raised questions about their confidence under such pressure. Arsenal had failed to score in their last six semifinal appearances, a statistic that loomed heavy as they took the field.
The first half concluded without a goal despite a balance of chances. Arsenal had come close, but PSG held firm defensively, relying on the creativity of their midfield and stamina of their forwards.
Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring for PSG in the first half with a stunning strike from outside the box, nudging the hosts ahead, 1-0. The atmosphere at Parc des Princes erupted, showing how critical this match was for PSG.
In the dying minutes of the match, Arsenal launched a final offensive, but PSG’s resolute defense, combined with time-wasting tactics, stifled their efforts.
“We have to credit our defense today; they held it together when it mattered,” defended PSG’s Marquinhos, whose leadership in the back was crucial towards sealing the win.
With their loss, Arsenal’s Champions League journey ended, leaving them to look towards the Premier League season instead, aiming to learn from the setbacks faced in Europe. As for PSG, they geared up for a final showdown against Inter Milan in Munich on May 31, eager to capture their first Champions League title.
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