Mikel Arteta Reacts As PSG Defeats Arsenal 2-1, (3-1 on aggregate) To Reach Champions League Final And Will Face Inter Milan For The Elusive Title.

Paris Saint-Germain survived an initial Arsenal storm at the Parc des Princes in the second-leg of the Champions League semi-final clash, as they hold off and defeat an inspired Arsenal side 2-1 and 3-1 on aggregate to reach the Champions League final on Wednesday night.

The Gunners' attempt to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit, but was stopped by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma who put up another outstanding performance on the night.

The Italian shot-stopper's had produced a magnificent display in the first leg at Emirates Stadium, he delivered a repeat performance with a series of stunning saves to keep Arsenal at bay early on.

PSG looked in trouble early on but found the right answers to hurt the Gunners. It relied on counter-attacking football and an excellent Gianluigi who made an outstanding stop from Gabriel Martinelli, then an even better save from Martin Odegaard's low long-range drive as PSG were rocked back.

The North London side were made to pay for not taken their chances when the host finally broke the deadlock in the 27th minute from a set piece after Arsenals defense cleared a free kick, Thomas Partey poor header towards the edge of the area bounced back into the path of Fabian Ruiz, who smashed a stunning half-volley into the back of the net.

Goalkeeper David Raya saved Vitinha's poor penalty in the 69th minute, which had been controversially rewarded for a handball by Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Shortly afterwards Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi curled in a precise finish that gave Raya no chance in the 72nd minute to make it 2-0 on the night before Bukayo Saka pulled one back for the Gunners, and then blazed a glorious chance over the crossbar as the visitors fell short of reaching the final for the first time since 2006.

It was the same city that hosted Arsenal's only Champions League final 19 years ago when they lost 2-1 to Barcelona.

“100% I don’t think there’s been a better team [than Arsenal] in the competition from what I have seen, but we are out,” Arteta told TNT Sports.

“This competition is about the boxes and in both boxes are the strikers and the goalkeepers and theirs was the best in both games.

“I am so proud of the players. 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.”

Meanwhile, PSG are heading to the final of Europe's elite tournament for the second time in five years.

The Parisians had lost to Borussia Dortmund at this semi-final stage last year and was beaten by Bayern Munich in the 2020 final.

To clinge the prestigious trophy they have been craving for a long time, PSG will take on Italian giants Inter Milan in this seasons final at the Allainz Arena in Munich on Saturday, May 31.

Inter who are three-time champions of the UCL defeated Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in one of the greatest semifinals in the competition's history.

PSG have already secured France’s Ligue 1 domestic title and are 19 points clear with two games to play.

Arsenal are second in the English Premier League, where Liverpool have already secured the title.

As a PSG vs Inter final awaits, it means that the Champions League final will be contested without a team from the Premier League, LaLiga, or the Bundesliga for the first time since 2004.

Porto, under a young manager named Jose Mourinho, beat Monaco in that final to lift the trophy.