Arsenal were beaten 3-1 by PSG in the Champions League semi-final second leg, with Bukayo Saka missing a crucial chance to level the score on the night late on
01:36, 08 May 2025
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 7: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal misses chance towards end of game during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Parc des Princes on May 7, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Saka missed a huge chance towards the end of the game
Arsenal fans have been left gutted over the 'could-have-beens' after Bukayo Saka missed an open goal in a gut-wrenching Champions League semi-final defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
Saka, 23, emerged as Arsenal's ace during both the quarter-finals against Real Madrid and across the two-legged clash with PSG. His 76th-minute stunner breathed life into the Gunners in Paris. Staring down the barrel at 2-0 for the night and a brutal 3-0 aggregate hammering, Saka pounced on a PSG blunder, determined as he buried a goal despite his initial strike being deflected.
Hope flickered alive for Arsenal, and mere minutes later, Riccardo Calafiori whipped in a cross that stunned PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma, leaving it ripe for Saka.
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 7: (L-R) Lucas Hernandez of Paris Saint Germain, Bukayo Saka of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint Germain v Arsenal at the Parc des Princes on May 7, 2025 in Paris France (Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Gooners were not happy that he missed the open goal
The England star met it with only open net staring back, but his right-footed jab sent it skyward instead of home.
"Keep it down, wee man," groaned commentator Ally McCoist as both Saka and the Arsenal contingent mourned the missed golden chance.
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Gooners took to social media to air their disbelief, with one lamenting: "That Saka miss will be etched in my memory forever."
Another cringed: "You cannot be doing that in the Champions League," while yet another fan despaired: "Saka, how can you miss that? Open Goal, a tap in was enough. That moment could have changed the momentum of the game."
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 7: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Parc des Princes on May 7, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Saka looked gutted after
Conversations delved into Arsenal's hunt for a forward and what they're lacking up top, with Saka and the wide forwards being leaned on to dish out the goals amidst injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
"At what point do we buy a striker?" quizzed one Gooner.
"Bukayo Saka has been immense again. If only we signed a damn a striker back in January," another groaned.
The Arsenal faithful were brimming with pride over the squad's graft, and boss Arteta was chuffed to bits too.
"I am so proud of the players," he gushed to TNT Sports.
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 7: Mikel Arteta manager / head coach of Arsenal consoles Bukayo Saka after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final Second Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Parc des Princes on May 7, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Arteta said he was still proud of the boys
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"They deserve a lot of credit for what they are doing in the context of the situation and the amount of injuries, probably the worst state you could arrive here as a team.
"To come here with a different context and still do that, it gives me a lot of positives for the future but tonight I am very upset."
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