Good evening folks! It's the big tonight! Arsenal travel to the French capital, Paris, to take on the Ligue 1 champs - Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the semi-final second-leg. They come into this leg on the back of a 0-1 defeat in the first leg.
Good evening folks! It's the big tonight! Arsenal travel to the French capital, Paris, to take on the Ligue 1 champs - Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the semi-final second-leg. They come into this leg on the back of a 0-1 defeat in the first leg.
Paris Saint-Germain: 1
Draws: 2
Arsenal: 1
"I think the manager, he calls them magic moments. He always talks about them, someone delivering a magic moment," Rice told reporters on the eve of the game.
"In that game against Madrid, obviously, I was able to produce two free kicks, which were incredible.
"But for the semi-final itself, it's maybe someone who can get that magic moment. Hopefully it's me again, but you're going to need a moment of magic to win a game.
Arsenal: Raya Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Merino.
Subs: Neto, Setford, White, Calafiori, Tierney, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Henry-Francis, Nwaneri, Butler-Oyedeji, Trossard, Sterling.
PSG starting XI: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Barcola, Doue, Kvaratskhelia
Subs: Safonov, Tenas, Ramos, Dembele, Lee, Hernandez, Mayulu, Zaire-Emery, Beraldo, Tape, Mbaye.
Well, the death of the Pope Francis could signal good news to English fans, especially of Arsenal FC. There's a theory running rife that the last three times a Pope died, an English team won the Champions League that season.
Could Mikel Arteta's Gunners be doing something similar? Let's wait and watch.
"It's not just where we want to be, we want to make the final and we're very close. We learned a lot from the first game so we have a big conviction that we're going to do it tonight.
"It's where this club deserves to be but there's so much more to do, so much to win and so much consistency to show. Hopefully we're on the right trajectory.
"We're going to need a lot of players as it will be a really intensive match and we will have to change the game at some time so we need some fresh legs.
"They [PSG] were quite direct, we expected them to play much more but they were more direct so hopefully we can do better.
"We've faced big atmospheres every time in the Premier League. This club has been trying to reach the final and win it for a long time, hopefully that can play in our favour."
- As quoted speaking to TNT Sports
"We are looking forward to the game and we want to show everything we can and reach the final," he said.
바카라œWe want to win this competition, we all want to do that and we one step away from the final."
We are minutes away from kick-off as PSG take on Arsenal in the crucial Champions League 2nd leg semi-final tie. The hosts are 1-0 ahead in the tie, thanks to their victory at the Emirates in the first leg.
German referee Felix Zwayer will ref the game, assisted by Robert Kempter and Christian Dietz. Harm Osmers will be the fourth official on the night. Some good news for the Gunners is that, he was the referee in their 4-0 Champions League win over PSV Eindhoven in 2023/24.
And here we go. Who will join Inter Milan in the final? Let's wait and watch.
How has Arsenal not scored from there? A nice cross from Jurrien Timber sees Declan Rice in the PSG penalty area, and the Englishman heads it way wide. A golden chance.
The Italian at it again! PSG have to thank the former AC Milan keeper to keep them in the game after he saves it from Gabriel Martinelli. Huge moment. Two big chances for Arsenal already.
It really feels like it's Gianluigi Donnarumma vs Arsenal. The Italian now keeps a long-shot from Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, that was going in but the Italian keeps it at bay. It's all Arsenal in this opening few minutes.
The Visitors are all over the hosts. The Gunners have ramped up the pressure on PSG and there's no getting out for the Ligue 1 champions. A stark difference from the first leg.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia now comes close to scoring as the Georgian hits the bar and leaves the home fans gasping. The former Napoli winger is in range and takes a shot but his curling effort hits the bar.
First yellow card of the evening and it goes PSG's way as Nuno Mendes stands on Jurriën Timber's foot.
William Saliba error lets PSG attack go on a quick counter as Désiré Doué gets one-on-one opportunity but he hits straight to David Raya. Saliba's error almost lets PSG in.
Englishman Declan Rice brings down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and gets booked immediately. The midfielder pleads his innocence but the ref is having none of it. Rice has to be vary now.
Costly free-kick and PSG make Gunners pay! Fabian Ruiz is allowed time and space to shoot and the Spanish midfielder shoots with his left-leg with ease. What a shot that is! PSG lead and go 2-0 up in the tie!
Arsenal have been brilliant but they have filled in mistakes all evening and one more from Miles Lewis-Skelly allows PSG to break but Doue hits straight to Raya and keeps the score to 1-0.
Visitors need a miracle, and a big one! PSG are out of the blocks and one big counter from their attackers could kill off the game completely. Arsenal are wasteful in chances despite having loads of possession.
Bukayo Saka gets ample of chance to gets a cross in and he delivers a low one but Merino cannot get close to it and the ball goes wide off the PSG post.
Two minutes added on. Gunners have fought well but PSG's goal is the difference maker. Arsenal need a goal, from somewhere, to make a match out of this.
Fabian Ruiz goal divides the teams in the first-half. The Spaniard's long range effort is the difference as the hosts lead 2-0 on aggregate and are in the box seat to book their place in the final against Inter Milan.
PSG are 45 minutes plus added time away from booking their seat alongside Inter Milan in the UCL final. Unless Arsenal decide to make things interesting.
Bukayo Saka goes down holding his knee and worrying signs more off it is that Ousmane Dembele is warming up. The French wingers gets a rapturous applause as he warms up.
Another breakout chance from PSG, with Nuno Mendes getting up the field but the hosts fluff their lines again. Story of the evening so far.
Arsenal, who have been renowned to score from set-pieces, fluff their lines and fail to score. Two corners from the visitors' Bukayo Saka but the Gunners cannot do anything out of it.
PSG are not hurrying into anything as they know, they are in the box seat. It's all Arsenal in the PSG half.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is single-handedly kept PSG in the tie. A brilliant save from Bukayo Saka sees the Italian being the main man and if they win the UCL, he could be one of the main guy.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is adjudged to have handballed Achraf Hakimi's shot and PSG have been awarded a penalty. Hosts have chance to kill off the tie.
And he saves!! David Raya keeps Arsenal in the tie with a brilliant save from Vitinha.
Game, set and match. Achraf Hakimi makes Arsenal play for their mistake and he drives into the low bottom corner to send them minutes away from spot in the final.
Gunners are given a slight hope from Bukayo Saka as the Englishman scores to bring the visitors back in the game.
Bukayo Saka has a golden chance to bring Gunners back to the game but the forward hits up in the stands, after PSG leave the AFC player unmarked in the area. Donnarumma is angry at his team's defence.
Former Serie A rivals Riccardo Calafiori and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are booked for an on-field altercation.
PSG are five minutes away from booking a seat in the final against Inter.
That's that! PSG have beaten Arsenal over two-legs and booked their spot in the final against Inter Milan.