UCL Final | PSG 1-1 Arsenal (4-3 pens): Calafiori’s Gunners lose shoot-out | OneFootball

Italy’s Riccardo Calafiori remained on the bench throughout Arsenal’s Champions League Final, which they lost to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Luis Enrique was trying to retain the trophy won last season in a 5-0 victory over Inter and started the same outfield XI as that Final for the first time this term. That included ex-Napoli players Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Fabian Ruiz, former Roma defender Marquinhos, and ex-Inter full-back Achraf Hakimi. The Gunners benched Italy international Calafiori, but fresh from winning the Premier League after a 22-year wait, they were the only unbeaten side in the Champions League this season.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – MAY 30: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Christian Norgaard of Arsenal sit on the Arsenal bench during the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Puskas Arena on May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

It took just five minutes to break through, as Leandro Trossard charged down a Marquinhos clearance in midfield and it ricocheted kindly for Kai Havertz, who burst down the left and surprised Safonov into the roof of the net from the tightest of angles.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – MAY 30: Kai Havertz of Arsenal scores his team’s first goal while under pressure from William Pacho of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Puskas Arena on May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Bukayo Saka risked a penalty by kicking the ball onto his own arm, while Safonov bravely pushed the low Saka cross off the feet of Trossard, getting a knock to the head in the process.

PSG dominated possession, but barely troubled David Raya, until Kvaratskhelia was brought down by Cristhian Mosquera for a penalty, which Ousmane Dembele converted to equalise, though without a second yellow card for the Arsenal defender.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – MAY 30: Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Puskas Arena on May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Kvaratskhelia surged on the counter-attack from his own half and his finish was deflected against the upright by Myles Lewis-Skelly on 78 minutes.

Pacho couldn’t keep his header down from a corner, while Raya was alert to rush off his line and pluck the ball off the feet of Bradley Barcola.

Vitinha’s sweeping first-time finish skimmed the crossbar, then Barcola almost repeated the Havertz goal only to hit the side-netting from a similar position.

That was the last kick of the regular game, so the teams were forced to extra time without injured Dembele and with Calafiori left on the bench throughout.

Noni Madueke had penalty appeals waved away when he went down under pressure from Nuno Mendes, and Raya had another brave rush off his line to stop a knockdown reaching Goncalo Ramos.

Piero Hincapié had a muscular injury during extra time, but Arsenal had completed all their substitutions, so he had to play on while visibly limping. Jurrien Timber hit the side-netting in the final minutes, then a Viktor Gyokeres strike was deflected.

They could only be divided by a penalty shoot-out in Budapest and Eberechi Eze drilled wide after a stuttering run-up, only for Raya to parry from Nuno Mendes, but Gabriel Jesus ballooned the final spot-kick into the stands of celebrating PSG fans.

PSG 1-1 Arsenal (aet)

Havertz 6 (A), Dembele pen 65 (P)

Penalty shoot-out: Goncalo Ramos (goal, P), Gyokeres (goal, A), Doué (goal, P), Eze (miss, A), Nuno Mendes (saved, P), Rice (goal, A), Hakimi (goal, P), Martinelli (goal, A), Beraldo (goal, P), Gabriel (miss, A)