Paris Saint-Germain claimed back-to-back Champions League wins with a 4-3 shoot-out victory over Arsenal after a 1-1 draw after extra time in Budapest on Saturday, with Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes missing from the spot.
Mikel Arteta’s Premier League champions showed great resilience to play the match beyond 120 minutes but suffered a second final defeat, 20 years after their first in Paris against Barcelona.
Luis Enrique’s side became only the second besides Real Madrid to win the competition in consecutive years in the 21st century.
PSG’s first triumph was 55 years in the making, 14 of them under Qatari ownership, the second could herald an era of dominance and dynasty building.
It was the Spaniard’s third Champions League win, making him one of only five coaches to complete a hat-trick – the first with Barcelona in 2015.
It looked unlikely for a while when Kai Havertz put Arsenal ahead after six minutes, but Ousmane Dembélé’s penalty midway through the second half cost a tight match with extra time and ultimately penalties.
RELATED | HIGHLIGHTS PSG vs ARS: Paris St. Germain beats Arsenal on penalties
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber was fit after a groin injury but his rust of more than two months led to Arteta deploying Cristhian Mosquera out of position at right-back.
The coach also opted for Havertz in attack on Viktor Gyokeres, and for an hour it looked like his calls would pay off.
Enrique selected ten from the side that defeated Inter Milan 5-0 in last year’s final as PSG finally lifted the trophy they coveted.
In Arsenal’s only previous final, German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off in the opening stages as they were defeated by Barcelona in Paris in 2006.
Arsenal got off to a much better start at the Puskas Arena, with Lehmann’s compatriot Havertz putting the Gunners ahead after just six minutes.
Havertz, who scored the winning goal in Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League final triumph, couldn’t believe his luck after Marquinhos’ effort hit Leandro Trossard and bounced into his path.
Arsenal took the lead when Kai Havertz fired a powerful shot into the roof of the net in the sixth minute, but he could not hold on. | Photo credit: AP
Arsenal took the lead when Kai Havertz fired a powerful shot into the roof of the net in the sixth minute, but he could not hold on. | Photo credit: AP
The forward galloped into the open space behind PSG’s defense and towards Matvey Safonov’s goal. Havertz had to overcome a tight angle, but fired a shot into the roof of the net.
It was the worst possible start for PSG against a miserly Arsenal, who had conceded just six goals in the run-up to the final.
The team’s disciplined defense kept the Parisians at bay with great ease as Enrique’s side controlled the ball but could not break through Arsenal’s defensive bastion.
Gabriel Magalhaes made an excellent last-ditch challenge to pick Kvaratskhelia’s pocket. The dynamic Georgian was the best player of the tournament, but was unable to breathe in the first half.
The French champions appealed for a penalty when Bukayo Saka botched a clearance attempt and the ball hit both his arms, but referee Daniel Siebert remained unmoved.
Fight back
PSG were reduced to frustrated potshots from distance and after the break the ball moved faster to destabilize Arsenal’s rearguard.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya saved Achraf Hakimi’s bouncing free-kick before Kvaratskhelia could finally have his say. After the winger’s smooth one-two with Dembele, Mosquera bundled him with a clumsy foul in the penalty area.
Dembele sent Raya the wrong way with a low penalty, with PSG fans lighting several flares in celebration. It was the 45th goal of the competition and equaled the all-time record.
PSG almost set up another when Kvaratskhelia raced down the left, but teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly reflected his shot against the post.
READ ALSO | List of managers who have won the UEFA Champions League title – Enrique wins the third title
Substitute Bradley Barcola shot a great opportunity wide just before half-time, as the French team regularly threatened, causing a tiring Arsenal to suddenly give them too much space.
The Gunners pleaded for their own penalty when substitute Noni Madueke went down under pressure from Nuno Mendes, but that would have been harsh on the PSG defender who pulled the winger.
It ended in a shoot-out, with PSG confident having already claimed three trophies on penalties this season, winning the last five. It also took the first penalty, and at the end it was for its own supporters.
Arsenal blinked at first, with Ebereche Eze shooting wide, but Raya then saved from PSG’s Mendes. Declan Rice leveled at 2-2.
After Lucas Beraldo put the Ligue 1 winners 4-3 ahead, Arsenal defender Gabriel got the fifth kick for his side and lofted it high over the crossbar to hand PSG the trophy.
Published on May 31, 2026
