UEFA Champions League Final: PSG Break Arsenal Hearts In The Champions League Final

Iman Ogunlola

May 31

5 min read

In case you missed it: A minute-by-minute look at the Champions League Final decided by penalties.

May 31, 2026

With the trophy being brought out, this is the real deal. After winning the Premier League, can the Gunners do it again on a bigger stage? Champions of France will face off against the Champions of England. Who’s taking it home?

Our Predictions:

- Désiré Doué (2025 MVP) or Vitinha to score in the 22^nd minute.

- Bukayo Saka to score in the 46^th minute.

“You can walk by it, but you can only touch it when you win it.” - Darren Fletcher

6’ Kai Havertz brings the heat with full composure through pressure from Pacho and a goal from near post. Bringing his Champions League experience from 2021 with Chelsea.

Kai Havertz scores for Arsenal. Source: Arsenal News Facebook page (May 30 2026)

9’ PSG attempt to counter, but Arsenal’s defence is too tight.

Are we about to witness Haram ball¹ from Arsenal?

10’ Ousmane Dembélé gets tripped by Bukayo Saka, and it’s PSG’s ball.

Désiré Doué runs it down the wing to Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia but he is stopped by great defence from Arsenal.

PSG has over 75% ball possession, and Arsenal stays in the lead by being so active on defence.

Kvaratskhelia loses the ball on a blind pass attempt backwards, which is stolen by PSG.

Arsenal double teams on Dembélé blocking his entry into the box.

David Raya boots it across the pitch down to Saka before William Pacho snatches the ball.

21’ David Raya hasn’t made a save; PSG needs to step it up and get the ball into the box.

23’ An Iso initiates between Cristhian Mosquera and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and it’s won by Mosquera.

23’ A water break is called. Will the Les Rouge-et-Bleu (the Red and Blues) come back stronger?

25’ Lewis-Skelly down the centre and down the wing to Saka, who beats Mendes and crosses it to Leandro Trossard yet it is saved by Matvéi Safónov.

Matvéi Safónov is on the ground with a head injury, but he perseveres.

29’ Arsenal is crowding the box.

30’ Nuno Mendes is struggling on the floor, but the game goes on.

34’ Dembélé is on the ball with a fake and attempts a shot which lands safely into Safónov’s gloves.

PSG fights to get through Arsenal’s defence.

36’ Saka receives the ball on the wing but gets bodied by Mendes.

PSG with 222 passes to 46 by Arsenal, highlighting how defensive Arsenal’s game strategy is tonight.

40’ Havertz on the ground and choked by Achraf Hakimi as his arm tangles around Havertz’s neck.

43’ Arsenal’s tactical defence is too much for Mendes, who gets the ball on the wing and crosses it to Fabián Ruiz, who headers it wide.

+ 6 minutes extra time.

45 + 1’ Havertz with a clean shot on target but blocked by Marquinhos.

45 + 4’ Goal attempt from Fabián Ruiz but caught by Raya.

45 + 6’ The halftime whistle is called before Saka could take the corner.

“Gunners have one hand on the trophy” – Laura Woods.

Could this be another 1-0 win for Arsenal?

Half time ends and Arsenal fans in the stands are praying for the win.

46’ PSG is dancing through Arsenal’s defence.

47’ Foul by Doué.

49’ Dembélé gets harassed by Piero Hincapié with no choice but to pass.

50’ Doué beats Rice on the left wing and crosses it, but the ball goes too deep for anyone to reach.

51’ Dembélé down the right wing but too slow for Hincapié.

54’ Yellow card for Saka as he fouls Doué.

55’ It’s free kick for PSG taken by Hakimi, but it is saved comfortably by David Raya.

57’ Hakimi DRAGS Martin Ødegaard yet this is completely ignored by refs.

58’ Arsenal gets a free kick after Mendes drops Saka.

This game is getting feisty.

62’ Doué to Kvaratskhelia who is fouled in the box by Mosquera, and it is a penalty for PSG. Will they bring it back?

64’ And Dembélé PELTS the penalty into the top right corner to level the game at 1-1.

Dembélé after he scores a penalty for PSG. Image source: Athlon Sports

69’ Hakimi drives the ball down the wing, but the cross gets intercepted by Hincapié.

71’ Hakimi receives the ball in the centre and passes it to Dembélé on the edge of the box who kicks it wide.

73’ Vitinha receives the ball outside the box and shoots but hits it wide.

77’ Kvaratskhelia down the left wing strikes the post.

80’ Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli coming on for Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka.

83’ Kvaratskhelia comes off for Bradley Barcola.

85’ Barcola straight off the bat, charges through for the goal but is rushed by Raya preventing the shot.

89’ Vitinha’s goal attempt goes off target and skims the top of the net.

+ 6 minutes of added time.

90 + 6’ Dembélé out for Gonçalo Ramos.

Free kick For Arsenal but cleared out by Fabián Ruiz.

90 + 7’ Barcola runs it down the wing but takes the shot with his left and misses the goal. The game goes to extra time. It’s been 10 years since extra time was added in a UEFA Champion’s League final match.

92’ Noni Madueke attempts a cross but fails to cross it in and takes the corner.

93’ And again, Madueke from the corner which fails to stay in bounds.

94’ Warren Zaïre-Emery comes in for Fabián Ruiz.

99’ Free kick for Vitinha followed by an off target shot by Hakimi.

103’ Foul on Madueke in the box gets ignored by the ref and robs Madueke of the penalty.

We’re seeing a lot more back and forth than the first half.

106’ High header by Doué but saved by Raya.

109’ Foul by Doué on Madueke and it’s a free kick for Arsenal. Declan Rice strikes but it is saved by Safónov.

117’ Doué attempts a shot after minutes of passing around the box.

118’ With 2 minutes of extra time left, will this final end in a penalty shootout?

119’ Noni Madueke attempts a shot that gets deflected off PSG.

119’ Viktor Gyökeres attempts a straight shot deflected off PSG.

120’ Rice belts a corner from Madueke but it is cleared out by PSG.

The penalty shootout is confirmed making this the first final to be decided by penalties since Real Madrid beat Atlético Madrid in the 2015-16 season. (Yahoo! Sports, 2026)