Hakimi lands decisive blow against wasteful Arsenal to put PSG in final

It was a night when Arsenal gave everything, battling until the very last, even when it looked over. Nobody should fault the spirit of Mikel Arteta's players. They emerged with honour. But it was a night when they simply could not bend this showpiece occasion to the force of their energy.

- David Hytner

When it really was all over, this raucous venue pounded to a delirious beat. Paris Saint-Germain are going to their second Champions League final, deserved winners across the two legs. They will fancy their chances of a first title when they meet Inter Milan in Munich.

There were thrills throughout here, Arsenal refusing to accept their fate. When Vitinha addressed a penalty in the 69th minute for 2-0 on the night, David Raya saved. After Achraf Hakimi did score for PSG moments later, Arsenal pushed again, Bukayo Saka cutting the deficit after a deflected cross from the substitute, Leandro Trossard.

We have almost come to expect the ridiculous in this competition, particularly after Inter's semi-final epic against Barcelona on Tuesday night and when Riccardo Calafiori, also on as a substitute, crossed low, there was Saka to apply the finishing touch. Except that he blazed high.

There was to be no fairytale for Arsenal, not enough of the magic moments that Arteta had called for; merely heartbreak, even if pride was present and correct. PSG had taken the lead on the night through a Fabian Ruiz belter. They can feel that their obsessive pursuit of Europe's ultimate prize might be approaching its end.

It was a night that throbbed with intensity, the touchpaper lit about an hour before kick-off when the Arsenal goalkeepers emerged for their warm-up to loud jeers; everybody knew the decibel levels would only head in one direction.