Fans of Paris Saint-Germain FC show their support. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
55 mins ago
6:05PM
So Arsenal will be much happier with the opening 45 minutes.
PSG have been uncharacteristically sloppy and ineffectual going forward.
The Gunners have soaked up the pressure well, and sporadically look like a threat on the counter-attack.
You suspect that if Arsenal score the next goal, it’s all over, as PSG are really struggling to break their rivals down.
That said, the level of concentration and effort required on the Gunners’ part to relentlessly defend in numbers and go so long without the ball is bound to take a toll, so PSG could capitalise on their opponents’ tiredness and find more space as the match develops.
1 hr ago
5:55PM
There was an unusual end to the half.
Arsenal had a corner, but Saka took too long to take it, and the referee blew up for the break.
Arsenal's Kai Havertz scores. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
1 hr ago
5:15PM
13 mins: Doué’s long ball picks out Ruiz’s run.
But the midfielder’s low shot from a difficult angle drifts well wide.
1 hr ago
5:14PM
Gabriel makes a crucial last-ditch challenge to stop Kvaratskhelia getting a shot on goal after the ball breaks kindly for the Georgian inside the area.
PSG have had 72% possession so far.
1 hr ago
5:12PM
Here’s a look at that opening goal…
HAVERTZ SCORES THE OPENER! 🤩@Arsenal lead in the UEFA Champions League final!
There’s a strong case to be made that Arsenal and PSG are the two best teams in Europe right now, and that is rarer than you think in the Champions League final.
It certainly wasn’t the case last year, when Luis Enrique’s side hammered Inter 5-0 to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
The Gunners, meanwhile, have never won this competition.
It is only their second appearance in the final, having lost 2-1 to Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona in 2006.
Given the quality of their squad, PSG will be most people’s favourites to prevail. However, Arsenal will come into this game in buoyant form, having just ended a 22-year wait to win the Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta’s side are widely regarded as having the best defensive setup in Europe — they have conceded just twice in the knockout stages so far, whereas PSG conceded five against Bayern Munich alone.
If the English side can keep it tight and deny the French champions the space in which their array of world-class attackers can thrive, they will fancy their chances of causing an upset.
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LIVE: PSG v Arsenal, Champions League final
PSG 1-1 Arsenal
89 mins: So close for PSG!
Doue feeds it to Vitinha, and the midfielder’s curled effort on the edge of the area is inches over, shaving the crossbar.
There will be six minutes of stoppage time.
85 mins: Barcola escapes on the counter-attack, evading Saliba and bears down on goal.
But Raya reads the situation perfectly and gets to the loose ball just before the PSG winger.
83 mins: PSG’s latest attempt sees Pacho head over from a corner.
More changes for Arsenal.
Trossard and Saka go off.
Madueke and Martinelli come on.
For PSG, Barcola replaces Kvaratskhelia.
80 mins: Lewis-Skelly does really well to stay with the run of Doue and win a free kick.
This game is starting to become very stretched now.
77 mins: PSG hit Arsenal on the counter.
Kvaratskhelia escapes Saliba and bursts towards goal.
The Georgia international’s low finish then deflects via Lewis-Skelly onto the post.
72 mins: Arsenal concede possession cheaply.
But Gabriel then does well to prevent Dembele from getting a clear shot on goal.
70 mins: Another scheduled water break is taking place.
PSG are looking more confident now, while Arsenal seem a little downbeat following that setback of conceding.
And here’s the equaliser…
Here’s a look at the penalty call…
67 mins: Arsenal make changes.
Mosquera and Ødegaard go off.
Gyökeres and Timber come on.
Dembele sends the goalkeeper the wrong way and finds the bottom left-hand corner.
It’s a great penalty under pressurised circumstances.
PSG 1-1 Arsenal (Dembele 65)
Kvaratskhelia gets in behind Mosquera, and the defender fouls him.
It’s a stonewall penalty.
The Arsenal star is lucky to avoid a second yellow.
PENALTY FOR PSG!
60 mins: It remains a relatively scrappy match.
Arsenal still look comfortable defensively.
Although as I type, Doue finds space down the right but can’t pick out a PSG player with his low cross.
54 mins: Saka has been booked for a mistimed challenge on Doue.
Raya doesn’t have too much trouble saving the ensuing free kick from Hakimi.
PSG continue to probe without seriously threatening.
You suspect they will surely carve out a clear-cut chance or produce a moment of magic at some point.
A look at a first-half penalty claim below, involving Bukayo Saka and an alleged handball.
Were PSG unlucky not to be awarded a spot kick?
47 mins: Mosquera has already been booked for taking too long at a throw-in.
This referee is clearly determined to crack down on time-wasting.
We’re back underway…
So Arsenal will be much happier with the opening 45 minutes.
PSG have been uncharacteristically sloppy and ineffectual going forward.
The Gunners have soaked up the pressure well, and sporadically look like a threat on the counter-attack.
You suspect that if Arsenal score the next goal, it’s all over, as PSG are really struggling to break their rivals down.
That said, the level of concentration and effort required on the Gunners’ part to relentlessly defend in numbers and go so long without the ball is bound to take a toll, so PSG could capitalise on their opponents’ tiredness and find more space as the match develops.
There was an unusual end to the half.
Arsenal had a corner, but Saka took too long to take it, and the referee blew up for the break.
HALF-TIME: PSG 0-1 ARSENAL
45 + 5 mins: PSG finally register a shot on goal.
But Ruiz’s mis-hit cross is comfortably saved by Raya.
Big chance for Arsenal out of nothing.
Havertz gets another sight at goal, but Marquinhos makes a crucial last-ditch intervention.
45 + 2 mins: Doue gets the ball outside of the area and balloons a shot well over.
The cheers of the Arsenal fans starkly contrast with PSG’s palpable frustration.
There will be six minutes of first-half stoppage time.
That’s an indication that this hasn’t been the most thrilling of halves.
42 mins: Mendes gets past Mosquera on the left-hand side of the area.
The full-back’s cross is deflected to Ruiz, whose header is off target.
40 mins: It remains largely akin to an attack-v-defence training session.
PSG’s attack is widely regarded as the best in Europe, but Arsenal have made them look pretty ordinary so far.
Luis Enrique’s side are starting to look a little short of ideas.
36 mins: Rice initially escapes with the ball before Saka draws a foul from Mendes.
The subsequent free kick ends with an infringement from Gabriel.
Arsenal need more of those moments where they relieve the pressure on their defence.
34 mins: After a long build-up of passes, Dembele scoops the ball right into the arms of Raya.
That sums up PSG’s attack so far. They have barely laid a glove on Arsenal.
32 mins: It has been a stop-start game, which suits Arsenal.
The North Londoners’ style has prevailed so far.
26 mins: Saka puts in a dangerous low cross after good work in the build-up from Lewis-Skelly.
Goalkeeper Safonov gets a hand to parry the ball away ahead of Trossard, and PSG clear.
The goalkeeper has taken a knock, however, and his potential replacement, Lucas Chevalier, is warming up on the bench.
23 mins: A scheduled water break is now taking place.
Mikel Arteta will likely be happy with how this game has gone so far.
20 mins: This game is panning out as most people expected.
PSG are dominating possession for long periods, but Arsenal are defensively well-organised and giving very few chances away.
13 mins: Doué’s long ball picks out Ruiz’s run.
But the midfielder’s low shot from a difficult angle drifts well wide.
Gabriel makes a crucial last-ditch challenge to stop Kvaratskhelia getting a shot on goal after the ball breaks kindly for the Georgian inside the area.
PSG have had 72% possession so far.
Here’s a look at that opening goal…
Out of nothing, Arsenal take the lead.
An attempted clearance out wide is blocked down, and it falls fortuitously for Kai Havertz.
The German still has plenty of work to do, bursting into the area before firing home from a tight angle.
Already, the decision to start the attacker ahead of Viktor Gyökeres has been vindicated.
PSG 0-1 ARSENAL (HAVERTZ 6)
3 mins: Not much has happened yet.
As expected, PSG are dominating possession with Arsenal sitting back.
We’re underway…
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
Confirmation of the two starting XIs…
Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.
There’s a strong case to be made that Arsenal and PSG are the two best teams in Europe right now, and that is rarer than you think in the Champions League final.
It certainly wasn’t the case last year, when Luis Enrique’s side hammered Inter 5-0 to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
The Gunners, meanwhile, have never won this competition.
It is only their second appearance in the final, having lost 2-1 to Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona in 2006.
Given the quality of their squad, PSG will be most people’s favourites to prevail. However, Arsenal will come into this game in buoyant form, having just ended a 22-year wait to win the Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta’s side are widely regarded as having the best defensive setup in Europe — they have conceded just twice in the knockout stages so far, whereas PSG conceded five against Bayern Munich alone.
If the English side can keep it tight and deny the French champions the space in which their array of world-class attackers can thrive, they will fancy their chances of causing an upset.
Kick-off is at 5pm.
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UEFA Champions League Final Liveblog Minute-by-Minute Soccer Arsenal PSG