Paris Saint-Germain have booked their place in the UEFA Champions League final after goals from Fabián Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi secured a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday, resulting in a 3-1 aggregate win.

Ruiz struck from the edge of the area in the 27th minute at the Parc des Princes, after PSG had withstood a relentless early onslaught from the visiting Gunners.

Having taken a first-leg advantage courtesy of Ousmane Dembélé’s goal, PSG saw Vitinha’s second-half penalty saved before Hakimi made the tie safe in the 72nd minute. Although Bukayo Saka pulled one back for the visitors, it was too little, too late.

PSG’s triumph sparked jubilant celebrations both inside the stadium and across the French capital, including on the Champs-Élysées. They now advance to face Inter Milan in the final in Munich on 31 May.

It marks only the second Champions League final in the club’s history, arriving five years after their defeat to Bayern Munich in Lisbon.

“We have worked hard as a club to earn this and to deserve it,” PSG captain Marquinhos said. “It has been a long, tough journey.

“The job of reaching the final is done, but it is not finished. We want more. We truly want to lift the trophy.”

Arsenal, meanwhile, saw their European ambitions end as they narrowly missed out on what would have been only their second ever Champions League final, 19 years after losing to Barcelona in Paris.

The North London club have not lifted silverware since winning the FA Cup in 2020, and now turn their focus to securing a third consecutive second-place finish in the Premier League.

“To do what we did in Paris today against this team is remarkable, but the reality is that we’re out,” admitted Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

“Sometimes, you have to credit the opposition and their goalkeeper. He won the tie for them,” he added, in reference to PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma.

There was a rousing atmosphere in Paris throughout the evening, with PSG finally able to celebrate reaching a Champions League final in front of their home fans. Their previous semi-final victory against RB Leipzig in 2020 was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Excitement gripped the capital before kick-off, although PSG have faltered in key Champions League matches several times over the past decade.

To add to their challenges, Dembélé — the club’s leading goalscorer — was left out of the starting XI after sustaining a hamstring injury in the first leg.

Arsenal, bolstered by the return of Thomas Partey in midfield following suspension, attempted to silence the boisterous home support from the outset.

Declan Rice narrowly missed with a header, Donnarumma denied Gabriel Martinelli, and produced a superb save to keep out Martin Ødegaard — all within the opening eight minutes.

PSG gradually settled into the match and nearly opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Désiré Doué set up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose curling effort struck the far post.

Doué then squandered another chance before PSG finally found the breakthrough just before the half-hour mark.

Vitinha’s free-kick was partially cleared by Partey, but the ball fell kindly to Ruiz on the edge of the box. The Spaniard controlled it well and smashed in a left-footed effort as the ball sat up — his first-ever Champions League goal.

Barcola then spurned a great opportunity to double PSG’s lead, giving Arsenal hope heading into the second half.

Another outstanding fingertip save from Donnarumma denied Saka in the 64th minute, shortly before PSG were awarded a penalty.

German referee Felix Zwayer pointed to the spot after being advised to review the pitchside monitor, judging that a shot from Hakimi had brushed the hand of Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Arteta reacted furiously to the decision, though Vitinha’s tame effort was kept out by David Raya, who guessed correctly and dived to his left.

PSG doubled their lead on the night when Dembélé, introduced from the bench, set up Hakimi to finish emphatically.

The Parisians wobbled slightly as Saka pulled one back from close range after Leandro Trossard outmanoeuvred Marquinhos on the flank.

Saka then missed a golden opportunity, firing over an open goal following a fine cross from Riccardo Calafiori, dashing any hopes of a miraculous Arsenal comeback.

It was PSG’s night — and their dream of lifting Europe’s most prestigious club trophy remains very much alive.