Player Ratings: PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 on agg)
View From The Armchair with his Arsenal Player Ratings as the Gunners suffer Champions League KO at PSG
Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi score for PSG to beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Parc De Princes (3-1 on agg) to set up Champions League final against Inter Milan
Fabian Ruiz struck early despite Arsenal's dominance while David Raya saved a Vitinha penalty before Achraf Hakimi made it two for the hosts. Bukayo Saka scored soon after but missed a good chance moments later as the Parisians ran out winners.
Find out who impressed with our Gooner Fanzine Player Ratings:
David Raya: 6.5/10 - money for nothing and…..one nil PSG against the run of play on 27 minutes, the job in hand just became a mountain to climb, still the Premier League's number one libero, saved a penalty on one of the few occasions he was required to use his hands.
Jurrien Timber: 7/10 - powerful runs, up and down the pitch. Marshalled his area well with Saka on the right. Quiet seocnd half, dodgy VAR decision for the penalty knocked the stuffing out of our sails.
William Saliba: 7.5/10 - graceful coming forwards early on, his surging runs only added value to his stock, lucky to escape on 23 mins with a misplaced pass, ultimately unable to keep the clean sheet we so desperately needed tonight,
Jakub Kiwior: 7/10 - let’s get it on the table, he’s not put a foot wrong deputising for Gabriel, cracking first half display but desperately unlucky to go in 2-0 overall, you need some luck we had none all night as PSG run out winners.
Myles Lewis Skelly: 6.5/10 - looking cool as ya like before the whistle, even cooler once it started, started to show his inexperience once the first goal went in, booked on 55 minutes, ridiculous handball decision on 66 minutes killed the game. Invaluable experience gained on this night.
Thomas Partey: 6.5/10 - calm and composed, delivering long throws, played an important role keeping the score down protecting the back four, looked a better team with him in it, fatal error on the edge of the box killed the game off for PSG’s second, very costly error.
Declan Rice: 7.5/10 - so close on three minutes with a towering header which might have changed everything, booked in the first half, gave everything for the cause as he normally does to drag Arsenal back into the game.
Martin Odegaard: 7.5/10 - high intensity from the off, bought out the best out of Donarumma on seven minutes, get behind him we are blessed to have him. Remember this was a Champions League semi-final when you factor it all in, he’s still a class act.
Gabi Martinelli: 7/10 - super unlucky on four minutes, looking dangerous one on one early on, slowly faded as the game wore on, would be the one to benefit the most from having some stiff competition on the left hand side next season.
Mikel Merinho: 6.5/10 - worked hard linking up the play, Hooked one wide on 32 mins, might have done better on 42 mins with a toe poke as it flashed past him, ultimately lacked the strikers instinct to be the fox in the box we needed tonight.
Bukayo Saka: 7/10 - looked most likely to score for us when he foraged forwards, desperately needs his Ian Wright up front to double his assists for the season next season. Scored on 75 minutes to breathe new life into us, missed an open goal that will give him nightmares on 79 mins. Could and should have had a hat trick tonight if Donnaruma isn’t in goal for PSG.
Substitutes:
Riccardo Califiori: 6.5/10 - good to have him back from injury, showed his big balls by getting booked when confronting PSG’s left footed wizard whatever his name is, Kvart something ?
Leandro Trossard: 7/10 - impressive when he came on, provided the assist for Saka.
Ben White: 7/10 - came on for eight minutes, didn’t get skinned twice so that’s an improvement.
Arsenal supporters watch:
I’m trying to stay positive and trying to remind myself, it’s a Champions League semi-final, and there are levels in this game like there are in most hurdles in life. We should remain proud of the boys, it was a valiant energetic downfall in the end, overall PSG had more going forwards than we had over the two legs, and these are the margins between success and failure.
Easy to type from the comfort of this armchair tonight, big up and safe travels home to the fans who travelled out there tonight, your efforts are every bit as valiant as what the players gave tonight, keep the faith.
One or two additions next year and we go again, silverware awaits, trust the process, this is not the time to find a scapegoat, it’s a time to heal before we go again.
COYG
View From The Armchair
FT: PSG 2-1 Arsenal (3-1 on agg). The Gunners are knocked out of the Champions League by PSG here at the Parc de Princes. See @M_Star_Online newspaper and my @SubstackInc Layth’s Take for my reaction on a frustrating night here in the French capital pic.twitter.com/Y9cuZyW95v
— Layth (@laythy29) May 7, 2025