By Samindra Kunti in Budapest
May 30 – Paris Saint-Germain retained the Champions League after a 4-3 penalty shootout victory against Arsenal following a 1-1 draw.
After a final that became a war of attrition with PSG enjoying possession and Arsenal defending deep, spot kicks had to separate Europe’s two best teams. A giant throughout the match, Arsenal captain Gabriel skied his team’s fifth penalty to end Arsenal’s dreams of claiming their first Champions League.
Instead, Paris became the first club since Real Madrid to defend their European crown.
For manager Luis Enrique it was his third Champions League title. He has transformed the team into a formidable collective, banishing the star cult of the past at the club. Last year, PSG, under Qatari ownership and after investing billions, won the trophy for the first time and on Saturday, they cemented their place as one of the great European teams.
On the balance of play, they deserved the win, punishing Arsenal for their conservative approach.
For almost an hour, the London club defended a precious 1-0 lead and seemed on course to win a double after claiming the Premier League for the first time in 22 years this season. But Christian Mosquera clipped Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inside the box to concede a penalty. In that split second, Arsenal perhaps lost the final. They came close to delivering a defensive masterclass, but it was not enough.
Kai Havertz had given his club the platform to do so. Arsenal enjoyed a dream start when the German striker opened the score in the 6th minute. It was jaw-dropping moment: picked over Victor Gyokeres as number 9, the German latched on to the loose ball, galloped down the left into the space and with no opponents closing him down rifled the ball past PSG goalkeeper Matjev Safonov. For a moment, it seemed Havertz had hesitated too long, but there was no doubting the strength and finality with which he lashed the ball high into the roof of the net.
The European champions were on the back foot – they were now trailing against a team, often in an unapologetic pragmatic mode, that had just conceded six times in the entire competition. Gabriel marshaled the backline. At right back, Mosquera personified Arsenal’s defensive excellence. He deputized for Jurrien Timber and won the battle against PSG’s in-house wizard Kvaratskhelia. On the touchline, Arteta demanded Bukayo Saka to double up.
The Parisians were building pressure with slow and systemic possession. Yet the best attacking team in the world with 75% possession, still struggled to get a shot on target. Instead, Havertz was released on the stroke of half-time, but this time Marquinhos deflected his finish to prevent a second English goal. The opportunity justified Arsenal’s approach – they were frustrating PSG, who lacked urgency and creativity, but carried a threat on the counter.
In the second half, the final’s dynamic remained the same – PSG in possession, probing and poking; Arsenal sitting back and restricting the opponent. Arsenal’s wingers Saka and Leandro Trossard constantly dropped deep to deny Doue and Kvaratskhelia space.
But Mosquera’s tangle in the 65th minute allowed PSG a way back in. From the penalty spot, Ousmane Dembele, the Ballon d’Or winner, held his cool and swept his spot kick perfectly into the bottom corner as Raya dived the wrong way.
Ultimately, penalties would decide the final – in more ways than one. It was the first final to go to extra time since 2016, but Arsenal claimed a penalty in extra time when substitute Noni Madueke charged past full back Nuno Mendes, who seemed to bundle the Arsenal player over in the box. The referee and VAR waved the appeals away and instead, Arsenal captain Declan Rice and Arteta were booked for protesting.
By then, legs had tired and nerves had frayed. In the penalty shootout, Eberechi Eze missed for Arsenal before David Raya saved Nuno Mendes’s spot kick. Then came Gabriel’s fatal moment. Two decades after a 2-1 defeat against FC Barcelona, the Londoners lost the Champions League final again.
Arsenal had played their hearts out and came within touching distance, but PSG once more are the champions of Europe.
Contact the writer of this story at [email protected] Photo credit: Stephen Gormley