Arsenal’s Champions League journey ended after a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals. Despite a spirited performance, the Gunners were unable to overturn the deficit in the second leg.

There were many talking points from the fixture, especially for Arsenal, with the way the fixture panned out

Missed Opportunities in the Final Third

Arsenal started the second leg with intensity, creating several clear-cut chances in the opening 20 minutes. Manager Mikel Arteta lamented the missed opportunities, stating that his team should have been ahead early on.

However, PSG’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, produced a series of crucial saves to keep Arsenal at bay. This lack of clinical finishing ultimately cost Arsenal a place in the final.

Defensive Vulnerabilities Exposed

PSG capitalized on Arsenal’s defensive lapses, with Fabián Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi scoring in the second leg. Hakimi’s goal, in particular, came as a result of Arsenal’s susceptibility to counterattacks. Despite controlling possession for large periods, Arsenal’s defense was unable to contain PSG’s swift transitions, which proved decisive over the two legs.

The Gunners Were Second Best 

There’s no way to sugarcoat it, PSG were better over the two legs. The scoreline even proves this point as the French champions won both the home and away legs.

Arsenal were chasing the game even in the second leg where they started off with control of the game, the Parisians worked their way back into the fixture. Arsenal couldn’t compete, and their lack of ideas was evident on Arteta’s face as he looked dumbfounded.

Arsenal’s exit from the Champions League serves as a learning experience for the young squad, showing that the Gunners will need to regroup quickly and focus on the challenges ahead.