Ruiz and Akimi Shine as PSG Overcome Arsenal to Secure Champions League Final Spot

Paris Saint-Germain secured their place in the UEFA Champions League final with a commanding 3-1 aggregate win over Arsenal, following a 2-1 victory in the second leg at the Parc des Princes. This achievement marks PSG as the third Ligue 1 club to reach multiple finals.

With a narrow lead from the first leg, PSG faced an Arsenal side that had never progressed in a European knockout tie after losing the first leg at home, having failed in five previous attempts.

Mikel Arteta’s squad aimed to rewrite that narrative, starting the match with immense intensity in the French capital. Declan Rice narrowly missed with a header from Jurrien Timber’s cross, while goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made two sensational saves early on, thwarting Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard within the first ten minutes.

PSG weathered the early pressure and showcased their own formidable attacking prowess, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s ambitious curling shot striking the post.

The pivotal moment came when Fabián Ruiz found the net with a brilliant strike. After Thomas Partey accidentally redirected Vitinha’s set-piece into Ruiz’s path, the Portuguese midfielder skilfully positioned himself and unleashed a powerful left-foot shot past David Raya, marking his first-ever goal in the Champions League. Raya later redeemed himself with an impressive save against Bradley Barcola’s close-range effort.

In search of a spark after the halftime break, Arsenal nearly found it with Bukayo Saka. However, Donnarumma once again showcased his brilliance with a remarkable save, preventing the England international’s shot from finding the top corner.

The tie took another unexpected twist when Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially called for a handball as Achraf Hakimi shot towards goal. Despite the perceived injustice, Raya saved Vitinha’s penalty, keeping Arsenal’s hopes alive.

Yet, PSG intensified their onslaught, with Hakimi striking a clinical effort past Raya, taking full advantage of Partey’s hesitance in defence and moving PSG one step closer to the final.

As Arsenal seemed on the brink of elimination, Leandro Trossard displayed tenacity, outmuscling Marquinhos and setting up Saka, who scored from close range.

Still requiring another goal to level terms, Saka unfortunately missed a glaring opportunity, failing to convert Riccardo Calafiori’s cross.

Ultimately, Enrique’s side maintained their course for their inaugural UCL title, joining Stade de Reims (1956, 1959) and Olympique de Marseille (1991, 1993) in achieving multiple final appearances after their 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in 2020.

Conversely, Arsenal’s defeat marks their sixth consecutive European knockout exit after losing the first leg at home, as Arteta’s team faces the likelihood of yet another season without a major trophy.

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