Arsenal’s bid to win the Champions League for the first time in their 140-year history ended in heartbreak after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Paris St Germain.<\/p>\n
Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both missed from the spot as PSG recorded a 4-3 shoot-out victory to retain their title after the game ended 1-1 as Kai Havertz\u2019s sixth-minute opener was cancelled out by Ousmane Dembele\u2019s second-half penalty.<\/p>\n
PSG landed the first psychological blow of the penalty shoot-out when they won the coin toss with the shoot-out taking place in front of their supporters at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.<\/p>\n
Eze dragged his spot-kick wide before David Raya provided Arsenal with a lifeline when he saved from Nuno Mendes.<\/p>\n
With the shoot-out in the balance at 3-3, Lucas Beraldo sent Raya the wrong way before Gabriel blazed over and Arsenal\u2019s dreams of following up their Premier League title with a first Champions League triumph came to a crushing end.<\/p>\n
Gabriel blazes over as PSG defend their Champions League title with a 4-3 penalty shootout success over Arsenal \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) May 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Gabriel, arguably Arsenal\u2019s best player on the night after he put his body on the line to keep PSG at bay across 120 minutes, responded by lifting his shirt over his face as his team-mates attempted to console the agonised defender.<\/p>\n Arsenal had been in dreamland after just 302 seconds when Havertz vindicated Mikel Arteta\u2019s decision to pick him ahead of marquee summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.<\/p>\n There was more than a hint of fortune in the way the ball broke for Havertz after Marquinhos\u2019 attempted clearance smashed into Leandro Trossard\u2019s left shoulder.<\/p>\n But there was nothing lucky about Havertz\u2019s masterful finish. Havertz, who has form on the big stage, having fired Chelsea to Champions League glory against Manchester City five years and one day ago, took three decisive touches with his left foot before unleashing his fourth into the roof of the net.<\/p>\n GOAL – Arsenal take an early lead with a thumping finish from Kai Havertz, no stranger to finding the back of the net in a Champions League final \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) May 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Gianluigi Donnarumma was an immovable force across Arsenal\u2019s defeat to PSG in the semi-finals last season, and there will be question marks over his replacement, Matvey Safonov here. The Russian goalkeeper remained rooted to his spot as Havertz\u2019s thunderbolt flew past him in a flash.<\/p>\n But Arsenal had lift-off, and history was on their side, or so they thought. The previous 11 teams to take the lead in the final had gone on to lift the trophy.<\/p>\n After Havertz\u2019s opener \u2013 and little did the Gunners know at that stage that it would be their only shot on target \u2013 it became a game of attack versus defence.<\/p>\n Arsenal were struggling to string more than a handful of passes together, and the 17,000 fans behind Raya\u2019s goal cheered every clearance.<\/p>\n Fabian Ruiz headed over when he might have tested Raya, but it took PSG until first-half stoppage time to force the Spaniard into meaningful action when he saved Ruiz\u2019s half-volley.<\/p>\n Havertz might have had a second at the close of the first half, but a poor first touch allowed Marquinhos to divert his shot away from danger.<\/p>\n PSG\u2019s dominance carried over into the second half, and Arsenal\u2019s resistance finally collapsed as the game passed the hour mark.<\/p>\n PENALTY – Kvaratskhelia goes down in the area and after a VAR check, the on-field decision is backed up \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) May 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Makeshift right-back Cristhian Mosquera got caught on the wrong side of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and after going through the back of PSG\u2019s brilliant winger, German referee Daniel Siebert did not hesitate in pointing to the spot.<\/p>\n Dembele made no mistake 12 yards, and Mosquera escaped a second caution.<\/p>\n GOAL – Dembele holds his nerve to level matters in Budapest. What will the Arsenal response be? \u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) May 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The momentum was firmly with PSG, and they came within inches of taking the lead after 77 minutes. William Saliba misjudged a long ball over the top and Kvaratskhelia had Raya\u2019s goal in sight before Myles Lewis-Skelly wonderfully intervened to send the Georgian\u2019s strike on to Raya\u2019s post.<\/p>\n It felt as though history could be repeating for the Gunners \u2013 who led on their sole visit to the Champions League final in 2006 only to see Barcelona strike two late goals.<\/p>\n Arsene Wenger, the man who took them there, watched on pensively from the stands. Wenger\u2019s side were unable to take the final to extra time. Here, they did \u2013 just.<\/p>\n Raya beat substitute Bradley Barcola to the ball in a foot race and with a minute to go, Vitinha\u2019s curling effort rippled the top of the goalkeeper\u2019s net.<\/p>\n Then, in the seventh of six added minutes, Barcola wasted a golden opportunity when he rifled his breakaway effort into Raya\u2019s side-netting.<\/p>\n Goalkeeper David Raya to the Arsenal rescue to deny PSG substitute Bradley Barcola
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