Another fine display from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and goals from Fabián Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi powered Paris to their second Champions League final, Bukayo Saka's goal unable to spark a late comeback for Arsenal.
Key moments
4': Donnarumma saves from Martinelli
8': Ødegaard drive forces strong save
17': Kvaratskhelia curler hits post
27': Fabián Ruiz hits excellent opener
64': Saka shot saved superbly
69': Raya saves Vitinha penalty
72': Hakimi slots home expertly
76': Routine Saka finish gives Arsenal hope
Match in brief: Clinical Paris withstand Arsenal pressure
Arsenal headed into the second leg having never recovered from losing the first leg at home in a two-legged UEFA competition tie, but showed plenty of intent to snap that streak in the early exchanges.
Operating from a more advanced midfield position with the return of Thomas Partey, Declan Rice quickly showed the threat he posed in attack, leaping high to connect with Jurriën Timber’s third-minute cross, but guiding it just beyond the post.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was called into action as the visitors continued their electric start, but the Italian goalkeeper stood up to the task just as he had in North London, reacting quickly to deny Gabriel Martinelli’s effort from a Partey long throw, and Martin Ødegaard’s low drive.
Martin Ødegaard's driven effort was denied by a strong save by Gianluigi Donnarumma
Martin Ødegaard's driven effort was denied by a strong save by Gianluigi DonnarummaArsenal FC via Getty Images
But even in the absence of first-leg goal scorer Ousmane Dembélé, who was on the bench after picking up an injury last Tuesday, Paris carried plenty of attacking threat.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia warned of that fact in the 17th minute, cutting in from the left and curling an effort onto the right post, but it was midfielder Fabián Ruiz who struck the stylish opener ten minutes later.
Collecting the ball on the edge of the box after Partey had headed out Vitinha’s free-kick, the EURO-winning midfielder dented Arsenal’s final hopes with two devastating touches – the first a deft chest control to escape Martinelli’s pressure, the second a left-footed strike which found the right corner via a deflection off William Saliba.
Fabián Ruiz powers in the opener for Paris against Arsenal
Fabián Ruiz powers in the opener for Paris against ArsenalGetty Images
Arsenal struggled to impose themselves early in the second half as they had in the first, but came close to a leveller in the 64th minute when Bukayo Saka cut in from the right wing and aimed a curling effort towards the far top corner, but the fingertips of Donnarumma denied the Arsenal forward.
Their comeback hopes appeared to take a further dent minutes later when Myles Lewis-Skelly was penalised for a handball offence, but David Raya got down to his left to save the resulting Vitinha penalty.
However, the reprieve was a fleeting one, Achraf Hakimi curling in on 72 minutes after Paris had won possession in the Arsenal half to increase the aggregate deficit to three goals.
Achraf Hakimi celebrates scoring Paris' second in the Champions League semi-final second leg
Achraf Hakimi celebrates scoring Paris' second in the Champions League semi-final second legAFP via Getty Images
A glimmer of hope was offered to the visitors when Saka finished comfortably after competing for Leandro Trossard's low cross four minutes later, but the English winger could not apply a finishing touch when Riccardo Calafiori's cross presented a golden opportunity to bring Arsenal within one in the 79th minute.
As it happened: Paris 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 agg)
PlayStation® Player of the Match: Achraf Hakimi (Paris)
"It was a really solid performance, capped with a very good goal."
UEFA Technical Observer Group
Alex Clementson, match reporter
Perhaps the victory that truly heralds the arrival of this new-look Paris side. They’ve dominated throughout their Champions League campaign, monopolising possession, carving innumerable chances, but on this semi-final occasion, they had to dig in. And dig in they did. Arsenal pushed and probed, but still they couldn’t find the answers to truly break this defiant defensive unit down. Buckle they didn’t, and a place in Munich’s showpiece is their reward.
Reaction
To follow
Owen Hargreaves, TNT Sports
"I can't think of a team that's transformed themselves more than Paris. Luis Enrique has done an incredible job. The goalkeeper, again, was world class today. They deserve to be in the final."
Key stats
Paris reach their second Champions League final, having last reached the showpiece in the 2019/20 edition when they lost 1-0 against Bayern. They are only the third French team to reach multiple finals in this competition, the others being Reims and Marseille.
Paris have won 19 of their 20 UEFA competition ties when they recorded a first-leg away victory.
Fabián Ruiz scores his first Champions League goal on his 46th appearance in the competition.
Arsenal have never recovered from a first-leg home defeat in a two-legged UEFA competition tie, this being their sixth attempt.
At 18 years and 223 days old, Myles Lewis-Skelly became the second youngest English player to reach ten Champions League appearances behind only Jude Bellingham (17y 289d).
Fantasy star performers
To follow
Line-ups
Paris: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes (Gonçalo Ramos 88); João Neves, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz; Barcola (Dembele 70), Doué (Hernández 74), Kvaratskhelia
Arsenal: Raya; Timber (White 83), Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly (Calafiori 68); Ødegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli (Trossard 69)
What's next?
Paris will face Inter in the final at Munich Football Arena on Saturday 31 May.