Arsenal loses 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain as French team sets up Champions League final with Inter MilanTopic:Soccer18m ago18 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 10:11pmA dejected Declan Rice reacts after Arsenal was knocked out of the UEFA Champions League. (Getty Images: Catherine Ivill)In short:Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal 2-1 in the Champions League semifinal.The victory saw PSG move though to the final against Inter Milan with a 3-1 aggregate.What's next?The Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milan will be played on Sunday, June 1 at 5am (AEST).abc.net.au/news/champions-league-paris-saint-germain-beats-arsenal/105266954Link copiedShareShare articleParis Saint-Germain weathered one attack after another and showed remarkable adaptability to hold off and defeat an inspired Arsenal 2-1 to reach the Champions League final on Thursday morning.Deprived of the ball possession it usually enjoys, PSG looked shaky early on but found answers by relying on counter-attacks and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to advance 3-1 on aggregate.PSG reached the final of Europe's elite tournament for just the second time in club history — it was runner-up five years ago — and did so in the first season following superstar Kylian Mbappe's departure to Real Madrid.Loading Twitter contentThe French club will try again for its first Champions League title when it faces Inter Milan on June 1 (AEST) in Munich. Three-time European champion Inter defeated Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in one of the greatest semifinals in the competition's history.PSG had lost to Borussia Dortmund at this stage last year and was beaten by Bayern Munich in the 2020 final.PSG broke the deadlock in the 27th minute from a set piece after the Arsenal defence cleared a free kick toward the edge of the area. The ball bounced back into the path of Fabian Ruiz, who smashed a stunning half-volley into the back of the net.Achraf Hakimi curled in a precise finish in the 72nd minute to make it 2-0 on the night before Bukayo Saka pulled one back for the Gunners.Arsenal had struggled early on last week in London — unable to cope with PSG's intensity in midfield — and lost 1-0.This time, boosted by the return of midfielder Thomas Partey, the Gunners started brightly, pressing high and recovering the ball quickly to peg PSG back in its own half.Their dominance was quickly rewarded with two good chances. The first came when Declan Rice rose high but missed his header, before Gabriel Martinelli saw his effort saved by Donnarumma.Arsenal attacked relentlessly, overwhelming PSG on the flanks, and went close again in the eighth minute when Martin Ødegaard unleashed a fierce, low drive from outside the area that forced Donnarumma into another fine save.PSG had little choice but to wait for chances on the counterattack, and they were few.But the hosts' defence was solid and they weathered the early storm with composure, waiting for an opening that finally came in the 17th minute. With some space on the left, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia came inside on his right foot and curled one of his trademark pinpoint shots that rattled the post.ABC Sport Daily podcastABC Sport Daily is your daily sports conversation. We dive into the biggest story of the day and get you up to speed with everything else that's making headlines.PSG then failed to capitalise on a poor pass from William Saliba that could have cost Arsenal a silly goal. But Désiré Doué could only fire a weak shot straight at Raya.Arsenal continued to lay siege of the PSG box after the interval and had another great opportunity soon after the hour mark when Saka curled a precise shot that seemed headed for the top corner, only for Donnarumma to stretch his long body and parry the ball away.Vitinha then missed a penalty after a VAR check ruled a handball on Myles Lewis-Skelly. It was not long, though, before PSG doubled its lead as Hakimi swept the ball into the corner from substitute Ousmane Dembélé's assist.Arsenal kept attacking until the end and cut the deficit through Saka in the 76th minute.The ABC of SPORTSports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.Your information is being handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement.Email addressSubscribeAPPosted 18m ago18 minutes agoWed 7 May 2025 at 10:11pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)SportAustralia's best sports rights in the hands of a Soviet-born, former oil tycoonTopic:Media IndustryFate of railyards earmarked for athletes' village hangs in balanceTopic:Olympic Games VenuesPhoto shows Black and white photo of locomotive parked in front of sheds and railway line. 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