Paris Saint-Germain claimed back-to-back Champions League triumphs with a 4-3 shoot-out victory over Arsenal following a 1-1 draw after extra time on Saturday. Eberechi Eze and Gabriel missed from the spot for the Gunners. Mikel Arteta’s Premier League champions showed great resilience to take the game beyond 120 minutes at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, but fell to a second final defeat, 20 years after their first against Barcelona in 2006. Luis Enrique’s side became only the second besides Real Madrid to win the competition in consecutive years in the Champions League era.
Speaking after the match, Paris Saint-Germain winger Desire Doue stated, “We are so, so proud, so happy, so grateful. As a team, as a family, I think we deserve that… look at the fans, we are so happy.” The first triumph of Paris Saint-Germain was 55 years in the making, 14 of those under Qatari ownership. The second could start what they hope is an era of dominance and dynasty building. Reflecting on the feat, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz noted, “It was Real Madrid and now it’s us too. They defended all through the game and football is fair… today the right team won.”
Luis Enrique rebuilt the team swiftly and efficiently, removing the superstars of the club and building a cohesive and committed attacking side capable of shredding opposition with terrifying pace. It was the third Champions League triumph for the Spaniard, making him one of only five coaches to complete a hat-trick, with his first coming with Barcelona in 2015. For a while it looked unlikely as Kai Havertz powered Arsenal ahead after six minutes, but Ousmane Dembele’s penalty midway through the second half took a tight game to extra time and ultimately spot-kicks.
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber was fit after a groin injury, but his rust from over two months out led Arteta to deploy Cristhian Mosquera out of position at right-back. The coach also opted for Havertz in attack over Viktor Gyokeres, and for an hour it seemed like his calls would pay off. Luis Enrique selected 10 of the side which demolished Inter Milan 5-0 in last year’s final as Paris Saint-Germain finally lifted the trophy they so badly craved.
In the only prior final of Arsenal 20 years ago, German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off in the opening stages as they were defeated. They got off to a far better start at the Puskas Arena, with the compatriot of Lehmann, Havertz, firing the Gunners ahead after just six minutes. Havertz, who scored the winning goal in Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League final victory, could not believe his luck after Marquinhos’s attempted clearance hit Leandro Trossard and bounced into his path. The forward galloped into open space behind the defence of Paris Saint-Germain and towards Matvey Safonov’s goal. Havertz had a tight angle to overcome but rifled a strike into the roof of the net.
It was the worst possible start for Paris Saint-Germain against a miserly Arsenal side who had conceded just six goals on the run to the final. Their disciplined defending kept the Parisians at bay with consummate ease, as Luis Enrique’s side controlled the ball but could not break through the defensive bastion of Arsenal. Gabriel made an excellent last-ditch challenge to pick Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s pocket. The dynamic Georgian has been the best player of the tournament but in the first half was not allowed room to breathe. The French champions appealed for a penalty when Bukayo Saka bungled an attempted clearance and the ball hit both his arms, but referee Daniel Siebert was unmoved.
Paris Saint-Germain were reduced to frustrated pot-shots from distance and after the break moved the ball quicker to try and destabilise the rearguard of Arsenal. Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya saved from Achraf Hakimi’s bouncing free-kick before Kvaratskhelia finally had his say. After a slick one-two between the winger and Dembele, Mosquera bundled him down in the box with a clumsy foul. Dembele sent Raya the wrong way with a low penalty to level, with Paris Saint-Germain fans igniting several flares in celebration. It was their 45th goal of the competition, matching the all-time record.
Paris Saint-Germain almost set a new one when Kvaratskhelia hurtled down the left, but teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly deflected his shot against the post. Substitute Bradley Barcola fired a fine chance wide on the break before extra time as the French side threatened frequently, a tiring Arsenal suddenly giving them too much space. The Gunners pleaded for a penalty of their own when substitute Noni Madueke went down under pressure from Nuno Mendes, but it would have been harsh on the Paris Saint-Germain defender whom the winger was pulling.
To a shoot-out it went, with Paris Saint-Germain confident after already claiming three trophies on penalties this season, and winning their last five. They also took the first spot-kick, and at the end in front of their own supporters. Arsenal blinked first, with Eze firing wide but Raya then saved from Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain. Declan Rice drilled home to level at 2-2. After Lucas Beraldo put the Ligue 1 winners 4-3 up, Arsenal defender Gabriel was left with the fifth kick for his side and lashed it high over the crossbar to hand Paris Saint-Germain the trophy.
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