Arsenal fans pose under Arc de Triomphe in Paris ahead of Champions League semi-final with PSG
Arsenal suffered a 3-1 defeat on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-final
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Arsenal's Champions League journey ended in heartbreak last night as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final second leg.
The result means the Gunners' trophy drought will now stretch to five years, with their last silverware coming in the 2020 FA Cup.
Mikel Arteta's side, who were already trailing 1-0 from the first leg at the Emirates, ultimately fell short despite a valiant effort in Paris.
Arsenal started the match with impressive intensity, taking the game to their hosts in search of an early breakthrough.
PSG were too good for Arsenal in the end as they finished their Champions League dream
Reuters
PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma proved to be a formidable obstacle, making remarkable saves to deny Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard as the Gunners dominated the opening exchanges.
Declan Rice also had an early opportunity with a header but couldn't capitalise, as Arsenal's aerial bombardment and Thomas Partey's long throws put pressure on the French side.
Despite Arsenal's bright start, it was PSG who struck first when Fabian Ruiz blasted in from the edge of the box after 28 minutes, doubling their aggregate lead.
The Gunners were handed a lifeline when David Raya saved Vitinha's penalty following a VAR check for handball against Myles Lewis-Skelly.
However, the reprieve was short-lived as Achraf Hakimi whipped a lovely finish into the corner in the 73rd minute after Thomas Partey failed to clear a loose ball.
Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal hope three minutes later, knocking in a cross from Leandro Trossard to make it 2-1 on the night.
The England international then had a golden opportunity to equalise in the 80th minute but blazed over from close range with the goal at his mercy.
It was a crucial miss that effectively ended Arsenal's comeback hopes, leaving them unable to overcome the aggregate deficit.
Arteta now faces the challenge of building upon Arsenal's solid defensive foundation to create a more fluid attacking unit for next season.
Bukayo Saka did get on the scoresheet but his miss will weigh heavy on his mind
Reuters
Despite their impressive defensive record, the Gunners have at times lacked creativity in the final third.
The Arsenal boss must address this creative deficit if his side are to end their trophy drought.
Their reliance on set-pieces, including Partey's long throws, proved ineffective and, frankly, backward-thinking considering the talent in this Arsenal squad.
PSG will now advance to the Champions League final in Munich on 31 May, where they will face Inter Milan.
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Achraf Hakimi's goal was a dagger in the hearts of Arsenal
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The Italian side secured their place after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Barcelona in what has been described as "an all-time classic" on Tuesday.
Arsenal, meanwhile, must turn their attention to their remaining Premier League fixtures, starting with a trip to Liverpool on Sunday.
Their aim now is to secure a second-place finish behind the champions.