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PSG player ratings vs Arsenal: Back-to-back glory! French champions edge out Arsenal in penalty shootout to retain Champions League title despite modest final performance
Deepa Krishnaswamy | May 31, 2026 11:02 PM CST

Paris Saint-Germain successfully retained their Champions League title after defeating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s final. Ousmane Dembele converted from the spot to bring the Ligue 1 champions level in the second half. Although Nuno Mendes missed his attempt during the shootout, Arsenal squandered two penalties, allowing PSG to reclaim the European Cup.

Luis Enrique’s men endured a nightmare start when Marquinhos’ clearance deflected straight into the path of Kai Havertz, who broke free and fired past Matvey Safonov at the near post to give Arsenal the lead.

From that point on, PSG dominated possession but found it difficult to create clear chances. Fabian Ruiz missed a header from a promising position late in the first half before his angled effort was spilled by David Raya. At the other end, Marquinhos made an excellent last-ditch block to deny Havertz from doubling Arsenal’s lead.

The French champions continued to control the ball after the interval and were eventually rewarded when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was fouled by Cristhian Mosquera inside the area. Dembele stepped up and calmly sent Raya the wrong way from the spot.

Kvaratskhelia almost turned the game around when he beat William Saliba and charged into the box, only to be denied by a combination of Myles Lewis-Skelly and the post. His replacement, Bradley Barcola, later broke through Arsenal’s defence but saw Raya rush out to collect the ball at his feet.

In the closing moments, Vitinha and Barcola both fired off-target as the game drifted into extra time. However, neither side created any significant opportunities in the additional 30 minutes, and penalties became unavoidable.

Eberechi Eze was the first to falter, sending his penalty wide, but Arsenal immediately responded as Raya saved from Mendes. Ultimately, Gabriel Magalhaes missed the decisive kick, blazing over the bar to spark jubilant PSG celebrations.

Here are PSG’s player ratings from the Puskas Arena...

Goalkeeper & Defence

Matvey Safonov (5/10): Will be disappointed with the way Havertz’s strike beat him at the near post. Managed to intercept a dangerous Saka cross and showed good anticipation coming off his line. Wasn’t forced into any major saves, even during the shootout.

Achraf Hakimi (7/10): Demonstrated his pace and endurance throughout, both defensively and going forward. Tested Raya with a free-kick in the second half and worked tirelessly until the end.

Marquinhos (6/10): His poor clearance led to Arsenal’s goal, but he redeemed himself with a crucial block to deny Havertz later in the first half. Otherwise, he was steady at the back.

Willian Pacho (8/10): Gradually took control of his duel with Havertz, dealing confidently with long balls. Made a key clearance inside the six-yard box early in extra time.

Nuno Mendes (5/10): Showed some impressive forward runs and long passes, though his final delivery lacked precision. Defensively solid against Saka but found it tough when Madueke came on. Missed his penalty in the shootout.

Midfield

Joao Neves (5/10): With Arsenal offering limited threat, his physical edge wasn’t fully tested, and he drifted in and out of the match. Passed neatly but without much impact and picked up a booking.

Vitinha (7/10): His influence grew as PSG pushed Arsenal deeper. Not every move came off, but most of PSG’s creative play went through the Portuguese midfielder.

Fabian Ruiz (5/10): Found good attacking positions in the first half but lacked composure to capitalise. Kept his passing simple and steady in midfield.

Attack

Desire Doue (4/10): Failed to replicate last year’s form on this stage. His crosses and shots frequently missed the mark, leaving little impact on the game.

Ousmane Dembele (5/10): Coolly converted from the spot to equalise and played the pass that set up Kvaratskhelia’s penalty. Otherwise ineffective, repeatedly running into dead ends and struggling against Hincapie and the central defenders.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (5/10): Quiet in the first half as Mosquera and Saka limited his forward movement. Improved after the break, winning the penalty and creating some openings with his dribbling, but still fell short of expectations.

Substitutes & Manager

Bradley Barcola (4/10): Twice got behind Arsenal’s defence but poor control and finishing cost him dearly.

Goncalo Ramos (5/10): Came on for Dembele in extra time but barely saw the ball.

Warren Zaire-Emery (6/10): Added drive and energy in midfield after replacing Ruiz early in extra time.

Lucas Beraldo (5/10): Maintained composure after coming on for Vitinha in the latter stages of extra time.

Illia Zabarnyi (5/10): Replaced Marquinhos for the final 15 minutes, keeping things simple.

Luis Enrique (6/10): His side initially looked flat against Arsenal’s deep defensive setup, but his decision to push Vitinha further forward after the interval paid off. Will be delighted to lift another Champions League trophy despite a below-par performance.


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