PSG beat Arsenal on penalties to retain Champions League title
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Paris Saint-Germain claimed back-to-back Champions League
triumphs with a 4-3 shoot-out win over Arsenal following a 1-1 draw after extra
time on Saturday, with Eberechi Eze and Gabriel missing from the spot.
Mikel Arteta's Premier League champions showed great
resilience to take the game beyond 120 minutes in Budapest, but fell to a
second final defeat, 20 years after their first against Barcelona in 2006.
Luis Enrique's side became only the second besides Real
Madrid to win the competition in consecutive years in the Champions League era.
"We are so, so proud, so happy, so grateful," PSG
winger Desire Doue told TNT Sports.
"As a team, as a family, I think we deserve that...
look at the fans, we are so happy."
PSG's first triumph was 55 years in the making, 14 of those
under Qatari ownership, the second could start what they hope is an era of
dominance and dynasty-building.
"It was Real Madrid and now it's us too," PSG
midfielder Fabian Ruiz told Movistar.
"They defended all through the game and football is
fair... today the right team won."
Luis Enrique rebuilt the team swiftly and efficiently,
removing the club's superstars and building a cohesive and committed attacking
side, capable of shredding opposition with terrifying pace.
It was the Spaniard's third Champions League triumph, making
him one of only five coaches to complete a hat-trick -- the first coming with
Barcelona in 2015.
For a while it looked unlikely as Kai Havertz powered
Arsenal ahead after six minutes but Ousmane Dembele's penalty midway through
the second half took a tight game to extra time and ultimately spot-kick.
Arsenal's Jurrien Timber was fit after a groin injury but
his rust from over two months out led Arteta to deploy Cristhian Mosquera out
of position at right-back.
The coach also opted for Havertz in attack over Viktor
Gyokeres, and for an hour it seemed like his calls would pay off.
Luis Enrique selected 10 of the side which demolished Inter
Milan 5-0 in last year's final as PSG finally lifted the trophy they so badly
craved.
In Arsenal's only prior final 20 years ago German goalkeeper
Jens Lehmann was sent off in the opening stages as they were defeated.
They got off to a far better start at the Puskas Arena, with
Lehmann's compatriot Havertz firing the Gunners ahead after just six minutes.
Havertz, who scored the winning goal in Chelsea's 2021
Champions League final victory, could not believe his luck after Marquinhos's
attempted clearance hit Leandro Trossard and bounced into his path.
The forward galloped into open space behind PSG's defence
and towards Matvey Safonov's goal. Havertz had a tight angle to overcome but
rifled a strike into the roof of the net.
It was the worst possible start for PSG against a miserly
Arsenal side who had conceded just six goals on the run to the final.
Their disciplined defending kept the Parisians at bay with
consummate ease, as Luis Enrique's side controlled the ball but could not break
through Arsenal's defensive bastion.
Gabriel made an excellent last-ditch challenge to pick
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's pocket. The dynamic Georgian has been the tournament's
best player but in the first half was not allowed room to breathe.
The French champions appealed for a penalty when Bukayo Saka
bungled an attempted clearance and the ball hit both his arms, but referee
Daniel Siebert was unmoved.
PSG were reduced to frustrated pot-shots from distance and
after the break moved the ball quicker to try and destabilise Arsenal's
rearguard.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya saved from Achraf Hakimi's
bouncing free-kick before Kvaratskhelia finally had his say. After the winger's
slick one-two with Dembele, Mosquera bundled him down in the box with a clumsy
foul.
Dembele sent Raya the wrong way with a low penalty to level,
with PSG fans igniting several flares in celebration. It was their 45th goal of
the competition, matching the all-time record.
PSG almost set a new one when Kvaratskhelia hurtled down the
left but teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly deflected his shot against the post.
Substitute Bradley Barcola fired a fine chance wide on the
break before extra time, as the French side threatened frequently, a tiring
Arsenal suddenly giving them too much space.
The Gunners pleaded for a penalty of their own when
substitute Noni Madueke went down under pressure from Nuno Mendes, but it would
have been harsh on the PSG defender whom the winger was pulling.
To a shoot-out it went, with PSG confident after already
claiming three trophies on penalties this season, and winning their last five.
They also took the first spot-kick, and at the end in front of their own
supporters.
Arsenal blinked first, with Eze firing wide but Raya then
saved from PSG's Mendes. Declan Rice drilled home to level at 2-2.
After Lucas Beraldo put the Ligue 1 winners 4-3 up, Arsenal
defender Gabriel was left with the fifth kick for his side and lashed it high
over the crossbar to hand PSG the trophy.

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