After the thriller semi-final between Inter Milan and Barcelona, the PSG-Arsenal semi-final was a rather mild event. PSG was already leading the aggregate 1-0, and on Wednesday, they hammered the final nail with a 2-0 victory over Arsenal.
While Arsenal stunned the fans with their attacking prowess, they ultimately lacked the edge to break down a well-organized PSG side. The Arsenal side opened the second leg of the PSG-Arsenal match with swift attacks, but they missed many chances, especially by Declan Rice in the early minutes of the game. From then on, Arsenal had no reply to the PSG counterattack.
PSG – Arsenal: What Worked For PSG This Season?
The memory from five years ago is still fresh in the minds of many PSG fans. After losing to Bayern Munich in the finals five years ago, PSG has been transformed into a well-balanced, cohesive unit under coach Luis Enrique. Even after losing their star player Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid in 2024, PSG still dominated the Champions League, and PSG-Arsenal were no exception.
After Mbappé, PSG had to make some crucial decisions, and it has paid off. PSG started this season with high-profile signings such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, João Neves, Désiré Doué, and Willian Pacho. This influx was balanced by letting go of several established players, like Manuel Ugarte, Randal Kolo Muani, and Xavi Simons.
After the restructuring of the squad, PSG relied on a more collective, team-oriented style of attack, rather than a one-man show with Mbappé at the top. We saw this focus on a collective team-based attack in the PSG-Arsenal showdown. The two goals came from Fabián Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi. None of them is a traditional striker, demonstrating the shared attacking strategy and tactical brilliance of Luis Enrique.
The Championship Title Inches Closer
On May 31st, when PSG face Inter Milan at the Allianz Arena in Munich, it will be the first Champions League final in 24 years without a Premier League, Bundesliga or La Liga club.
At least one club from England, Germany or Spain has appeared in the final since 2004. Moreover, the past 14 winners of the UEFA have come from these countries, with Real Madrid winning six titles in the last 14 years.
This has made many fans dismiss other leagues as “the league of farmers.” The term is popular among English fans to dismiss domestic leagues where the quality of football is perceived to be weaker than the Premier League. PSG manager Luis Enrique referred to that after the PSG-Arsenal match, saying: “The league of farmers, no? We are the league of farmers!”
While PSG and Inter would reject the term, they have both defied the odds to some degree to reach the 2025 UEFA Champions League final.
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