PSG Reaches Champions League Final as Arteta Gets Bitter Over Arsenal Loss

This will be the second time 'Les Parisiens' will play in the Champions League Final after reaching this stage in 2020. This will also be the first time in their history that PSG and Inter meet in an official match. 

PSG 2-1 Arsenal (AGG. 3-1)

The Parc des Princes was rocking before kickoff with large tifos around the stadium to create an intense atmosphere. This did not faze Arsenal, and they had great chances at the start of the game. Gianluigi Donnarumma made two key saves to prevent Arsenal from taking the lead and, at the same time, equalizing the aggregate score.

In the 27th minute, relief arrived for the PSG fans as a great shot from Fabian Ruiz past David Raya opened the score for the home side. It was 1-0 for PSG and 2-0 for them on aggregate. 

In the second half, Arsenal kept the pressure on, but Donnarumma continued to make impressive saves. In the 67th minute, PSG were awarded a penalty by VAR as a shot from Achraf Hakimi came off the arm of Myles Lewis-Skelly. 

Vithinha took the penalty, and while he has a great record from the spot, his tame shot was easily saved by Raya. This was a great moment for Arsenal as the momentum could've shifted in their favor.

In the 72nd minute, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia puts a ball for Hakimi on the edge of the box. Thomas Partey almost gets to the ball, but Ousmane Dembele gives it to Hakimi, who finishes it into the bottom right corner to make it 2-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate. 

Four minutes later, Arsenal got a goal back as Saka scored past Donnarumma after collecting the ball from a deflected cross. It was 2-1, but Arsenal needed two more goals to send the game to extra time. Saka had the best chance to make it 2-2 after a Riccardo Calafiori cross went past Donnarumma and to Saka, who had an open net, but he sent it over the bar.

There was not enough time for a crazy comeback, and when the final whistle blew, the PSG team and their fans went wild. 

'Bitter' Post-Match Reactions

Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta , was understandably upset about his team's defeat, but his words after the game led some soccer fans to believe he ended the game as a 'sore loser'. 

Arteta spoke about being proud of his team, but believes that his team was the best against PSG over two legs. The Spanish manager even went on to say that there was no team better than his in the Champions League. 

During the post-match press conference, Arteta also mentioned that he received feedback from the PSG bench about how great his team was despite the elimination. He mentions that the PSG bench told him that 'the best team lost'. 

PSG's manager, Luis Enrique, also spoke after the game and took the opportunity to shut the haters up. He laughed about the opinion many soccer fans have on PSG playing in a 'farmers league'. This comes from the French champions dominating Ligue 1 for over a decade. 

PSG defeated all the Premier League teams that competed in the Champions League this season. The defeated Manchester City in the league phase while eliminating Liverpool, Aston Villa, and now Arsenal in the knockout stage.

Luis Enrique was asked about Arteta's words about the PSG bench, saying that 'the best team lost' today. Enrique shook his head and disagreed with the words of the Arsenal manager. 

Enrique and PSG will look forward to the Champions League Final as they are on course to win a treble. His team will play in the Coupe de France Final against Stade Reims on May 24th, a week before the Champions League Final.