The Gunners entered the match knowing that victory was essential to secure a place in the final against Inter in Munich on May 31. ..Continue Reading
However, their hopes were quickly dented when Fabian Ruiz fired a stunning left-footed half-volley past David Raya in the 27th minute, putting PSG two goals ahead on aggregate.
Arsenal’s goalkeeper managed to keep his team in contention by stopping Vitinha’s penalty in the 69th minute, but Achraf Hakimi extended PSG’s lead further with a well-placed right-footed strike in the 72nd minute.
Bukayo Saka’s late goal, scored 14 minutes from the end, was little more than a consolation in an already decided contest.
After the game, Arteta, 43, claimed that “there [hasn’t] been a better team [than Arsenal] in the competition” this term.
“This competition is about the boxes and there is normally the strikers and the goalkeeper, and he [Donnarumma] was the best player over both games,” Arteta told TNT Sports.
Despite the Italian ‘keeper being excellent in both legs, UEFA chose to award two other PSG players the Player of the Match awards.
Vitinha picked up the accolade after last week’s first leg, while Hakimi, 26, was given the award on Wednesday.
Uefa.com states that “The UEFA Technical Observer panel at each fixture will decide who deserves to be the Player of the Match, with an official trophy handed to the successful candidate after full time”.
“It was a really solid performance, capped with a very good goal,” the UEFA Technical Observer Group said.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice also conceded that Gianluigi Donnarumma was “unbelievable” when speaking to TNT Sports.
“We gave it everything, it wasn’t meant to be,” Rice explained. “You’re in or you’re out in this competition. Over the two legs, we could’ve scored more goals but Donnarumma has been unbelievable and it wasn’t meant to be.”
Arsenal return to Premier League action with a trip to Anfield, where they will face Liverpool on Sunday (May 11).
