'They're just a little bit better': Arsenal dream dies in dramatic Champions League semi
Updated . First published at
Paris Saint-Germain will play Inter Milan in the Champions League final after outclassing Arsenal 2-1 in the second leg of the semi-final on Thursday (AEST).
PSG midfielder Fabian Ruiz struck the first blow in the 27th minute at Parc des Princes after Arsenal superstar Declan Rice gave away a free kick in a dangerous position.
The Gunners repelled the initial set piece but Ruiz created space for himself to unleash a sweet strike with his left boot.
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Fabian Ruiz of Paris Saint-Germain scores. Getty
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya may have had the shot covered but the ball took a deflection off William Saliba and flew into the top right corner.
"A beautiful finish. A little deflection, but perfectly hit," ex-Socceroos captain Craig Foster said on Stan Sport.
Mark Pougatch was pitchside in Paris and felt Saliba could have potentially avoided disaster.
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Fabian Ruiz of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after scoring with Achraf Hakimi and Joao Neves. Getty
"It's easy for us to say, stand square on and be hit in the face," Pougatch said on Stan Sport.
"But the minute you turn your body a little bit like Saliba did, you turn yourself into a slips catching machine. In other words, the ball's going to come off your body at an angle, and it doesn't take much of a nick for the angle to come off his body, Saliba, and fly into the corner.
"They're just a little bit better, PSG. I think it's as simple as that."
Raya kept Arsenal alive in the second half when he easily saved Vitinha's poor penalty attempt.
But PSG went 2-0 up shortly after as dangerous fullback Achraf Hakimi whipped a curling shot past Raya and Paris erupted.
The Gunners were at long odds from there but Bukayo Saka offered some hope when he scored Arsenal's first goal of the tie in the 76th minute.
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal reacts after missing a chance. Getty
Saka then had a golden chance to equalise but blasted the ball over an open net.
PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was superb again, making a series of spectacular saves.
PSG won the first leg 1-0 in London and now meet Inter in the decider in Munich on June 1 (AEST).
Three-time champions Inter earlier defeated Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in one of the greatest semi-finals in the competition's history.
PSG have never won the trophy and were beaten by Bayern Munich in the 2020 final.
They lost star striker Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid in the off-season and the red hot Ousmane Dembele did not start in Paris as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Australian football great Mark Bosnich predicts PSG will be too strong for Inter.
"In the past they had star players, now they have a star team," Bosnich said.
The big hole left by Mbappe was not filled by yet another superstar.
Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his hat trick. Getty
It was a major change at a club where for more than a decade owners had spent lavishly to attract big names such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi and Neymar.
The club's new approach allowed manager Luis Enrique to build a rejuvenated, rock solid side playing some of the best football in Europe.
"We believe in our coach and we believe in our players - in our talented, young, hungry players," PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi told CBS Sports.
"They fight for the team, they die for the jersey, that's the most important, for the city, for the club. There's still one match to go... we are not done."
Arsenal, meanwhile, will finish another season without silverware despite often playing superb football.
Mikel Arteta's team are second in the Premier League but have scored 17 goals less than champions Liverpool.
Arsenal's leading goal scorer in the Premier League is Kai Havertz with nine.
"Brentford have got three players in double figures in the Premier League," Pougatch, an Arsenal supporter, said on Stan Sport.
"Arsenal don't have any. Well, frankly, that's ridiculous if you're trying to win the Champions League or the Premier League.
"I know they've had injuries, but they just don't have enough goals for all their good work in the middle of the field."
Arsenal has not won major silverware since lifting the FA Cup nearly five years ago in Arteta's first season in charge.
Arteta was adamant when asked if he believed the best team lost.
"I think so. Especially for 160 minutes. They told us," he said, referring to PSG admitting it, too.
"It was a case of the most of the performance was there, but just the finishing of the chances wasn't." - with AP
