Paris Saint-Germain made history on Saturday with its defeat of Arsenal in the Champions League final, prevailing 4-3 on penalties after the game was tied 1-1 after 120 minutes of play.
Watching the game, it was evident PSG was the better side and dominated proceedings for the most part. But the way Arsenal was able to impose its style of play on Luis Enrique’s side was outstanding for the majority of the match.
Despite Kai Havertz opening the scoring after just six minutes, the final didn’t really spark into life until the final 20 minutes when legs got heavy, changes were made and both teams took off the handbrake and the enormity of the occasion truly set in.
There were virtually no gaps between the Gunners’ lines and virtually no player in red out on that pitch ever missed a beat in the defensive third, until a foul by Cristhian Mosquera on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia led to a penalty that Ousmane Dembélé converted to tie the match.
Despite the intensity of the final moments of normal time, Arsenal hung on – you don’t have to love the way the Gunners goes about their business, but it demands respect. The almost insatiable appetite it has to defend is truly admirable. It has taken them to the Premier League title and just yards away from a first Champions League, but it just wasn’t to be for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Extra time was mainly an exercise in killing time until penalties, when the Parisians took their chances – aside from one save from David Raya – and Arsenal defender Gabriel sailed a must-have spot kick over the bar to hand the title to PSG.
As for PSG, what more can be said…
When they write the story of the greatest teams to ever grace the European club game, they will put this Luis Enrique side firmly in that conversation.
Before his arrival, PSG almost seemed cursed in this competition and was unable to get over the line almost to the point of ridicule – then stepped in this visionary Spanish genius.
What’s most impressive about Enrique is not just the silverware he’s brought to the French capital, but the manner in which his team plays. For a soccer purist, it reminds them why they love this game so much. Imagine what superlatives will be needed if Les Parisiens manage to win this title a third time in a row next season.
Thankfully, we have 12 months to think about that.
