West Ham players Max Kilman, Danny Ings and Aaron Cresswell were at Parc des Princes, as was back-up keeper Wes FoderinghamCredit: Getty
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Martin Odegaard and Co suffered Champions League agony as Arsenal exitedCredit: AFP
Keen-eyed viewers would have been surprised to see the quartet in the stands as Arsenal took on Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital – a day after Inter Milan completed a 7-6 aggregate triumph over Barcelona.
Managers often blame testing midweek trips to Europe for poor Premier League displays just days later.
But amid a tough domestic season for the Hammers, their players knew the pressure was off them – and all on the Gunners – who trailed 1-0 for Wednesday’s return leg.
Two of the London Stadium stars were former England men in left-back Aaron Cresswell, 35, and 32-year-old striker Danny Ings.
They were joined by ex-Wolves centre-back Max Kilman, 27.
And third-choice stopper Wes Foderingham, 34, who has yet to play a senior game since arrivng at West Ham last June, was there too.
But for most of the season, Europe has been the furthest thing from the Hammers’ minds.
London Stadium chiefs sacked manager Julen Lopetegui in January after half a season in the lower reaches of the Premier League.
Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi then fired home to put PSG 2-0 up on the night, 3-0 on aggregate.
And Bukayo Saka’s bundled reply on 76 minutes proved in vain.
But although it was a contrasting night for the four Hammers and the Arsenal team they were watching, both groups of players will have to get over it in time for massive Prem matches on Sunday.
Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal 2-1 at home to take their Champions League semifinal 3-1 on aggregate.
Paris Saint-Germain weathered one attack after another and showed remarkable adaptability to hold off and defeat an inspired Arsenal 2-1 to reach the Champions League final.
Deprived of the ball possession they so often enjoy, PSG looked in trouble early on but found the right answers to hurt the Gunners in the match on Wednesday.
They relied on counter-attacking football and an excellent Gianluigi Donnarumma to prevail, advancing 3-1 on aggregate.
“The feedback straightaway from their bench is that we were much better than them,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports after the game.
“When you look at the two games, the best player on the pitch has been their goalkeeper. He has made a difference for them in the tie.
“We were much closer than the results showed. I am very proud of the players, the way we handled the pressure, and after 20 minutes, it should have been 3-0.
“We are not there, and that has to hurt.”
PSG reached the final of Europe’s elite tournament for the second time in five years. They will take on Inter Milan on May 31 after the three-time champion defeated Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in one of the greatest semifinals in the competition’s history.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Fabian Ruiz scores their first goal past Arsenal’s David Raya [Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters]
PSG had lost to Borussia Dortmund at this stage last year and was beaten by Bayern Munich in the 2020 final.
PSG broke the deadlock in the 27th minute from a set piece after the Arsenal defence cleared a free kick towards the edge of the area. The ball bounced back into the path of Fabian Ruiz, who smashed a stunning half-volley into the back of the net.
Achraf Hakimi curled in a precise finish in the 72nd minute to make it 2-0 on the night, before Bukayo Saka pulled one back for the Gunners.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi scores their second goal [Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters]
The England forward then spurned an open goal minutes later and, with it, the last real chance for a comeback to truly be mounted.
PSG had earlier missed the chance to double their lead from the penalty spot when Ferreira Vitinha had his kick saved by David Raya.
The kick itself was somewhat controversial in that VAR (video assistant referee) called back play when Myles Lewis-Skelly’s hand was innocuously clipped by Hakimi’s shot.
“Over the two legs, we could have scored three or four more goals,” Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice told TNT Sports.
“Sometimes, you have to lose a few to win, you have to overcome some of these setbacks to grow as a player and a team.
“We are growing as a team, but we need to keep pushing and believing. This is why we play. There will be setbacks on the way.
“PSG have gone through, but this isn’t going to define us. We’ll be back and we’ll get our players back and will be a much stronger outfit.”
Friedrich Merz says a reset in relations is vital to help Europe overcome its security and economic ‘challenges’.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for a renewed partnership with France to help Europe confront its “enormous” security and economic challenges.
At a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Wednesday, Merz outlined a joint vision for deeper European integration, calling for a “new push for Europe” grounded in closer Franco-German cooperation.
“We will only be able to meet these challenges if France and Germany stand even more closely together than in the past,” Merz said. “That is why Emmanuel Macron and I have agreed on a new Franco-German push for Europe.”
Among the initiatives discussed was the strengthening of the Franco-German Defence and Security Council, Merz said.
“We want to better coordinate our support for Ukraine within this framework, align our national defence planning and procurement projects even more closely, and also find new answers to strategic questions of security and defence policy,” Merz added.
The meeting comes at a time of mounting concern across Europe about the reliability of US security guarantees amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
In a joint op-ed published in Le Figaro, Merz and Macron affirmed their shared commitment to “contribute to a just and lasting peace [in Ukraine], with the support of the United States on security, and strong security guarantees”.
Macron said the two countries would fast-track new defence capabilities.
The visit to Paris follows a rocky start to Merz’s chancellorship after he needed an unprecedented two rounds of voting in the Bundestag to be elected Chancellor, suggesting underlying divisions within the new governing coalition between his centre-right CDU/CSU alliance and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).
But in a potential shift towards a more unified German foreign policy, Merz now presides over a government in which both the chancellery and foreign ministry are held by the same party for the first time in years.
He has also pledged to establish a national security council within the chancellery, aimed at improving coordination across foreign, development, and defence policy.
Later on Wednesday, Merz is due to travel to Poland. Speaking to German state broadcaster ZDF, Merz added that he intended to work with Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to shape a tougher EU-wide migration framework.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa to Paris, in his first trip to Europe since taking office in January. Al-Sharaa will discuss post-war reconstruction and economic cooperation while France restates its support for a free and stable Syria.
Laura Stott has tested all the supermarket pains au chocolatCredit: Damien McFadden
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Pains au chocolat are flying off the shelves in supermarketsCredit: Getty
Buttery, flaking and traditionally filled with two tunnels of dark cocoa, chocolate croissants have enjoyed an eight per cent rise in sales.
But whether you enjoy them for breakfast, brunch, or simply with a cup of coffee as a treat, which own-brand versions give you the best taste for your dough?
These are so good you might even fool yourself that you bought them at a bakery in FranceCredit: Damien McFadden
AN all-butter packet of pains au choc for this price means you are getting super quality for your money – and they did not disappoint on flavour.
The high-grade ingredients are similar to those in costlier packets.
Made in the traditional French style, these pastries look inviting, with thick wodges of dark chocolate running through the middle that ooze out of each end.
The outer layers are lovely, flaky and dark golden.
The dough crumbles as you bite in to enjoy the rich and yummy taste.
There is loads of choccie in every mouthful, which is incredibly satisfying.
Trying the largest and most expensive pain au chocolat in Paris
Good warmed up, or tasty munched cold.
You might even fool yourself that you bought them at a bakery in France.
Rating: 5/5
Pains Au Chocolat (6) Sainsbury’s, £1.60 (27p each)
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These are individually wrapped, which makes them ideal for eating on the goCredit: Damien McFadden
THE pastries in this multi-pack are individually wrapped, which makes them ideal for popping into bags to eat on the go.
Enjoy them for brekkie on your commute or just saving a bit of cash when you pop out for coffee.
The flavour is good, especially for the price.
Made with proper butter and 14 per cent chocolate, they looked a bit squashed and sad but tasted better than I expected.
The pastry is quite dense and very filling owing to a heavier texture.
But it’s not too stodgy, and on the plus side this did make them more substantial.
A nice soft dough means these also tasted good even when eaten cold.
Ideal for tucking into with a cup of coffee while sitting in the sunshine.
Rating: 3/5
Finest Pains Au Chocolat (4) Tesco, £2.40 (60p each)
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These treats from Tesco have the best dark chocolate insideCredit: Damien McFadden
These tasty treats had the best dark chocolate inside of all those I tried.
With 18 per cent per pastry, it’s a decadent and delicious dark filling that would be good enough to eat on its own if it came as a bar.
Encase it in crumbling, flaky, all-butter pastry and it tastes even better.
Nice, fluffy dough with lots of pastry layers and not dry at all.
These are so moist and rich they taste fine if munched straight from the packet.
But I’d still warm them for a few minutes in the oven or air fryer to get the gorgeous aroma and golden crispiness.
Very generous pastries.
Divine with a cup of coffee, and the perfect way to start a lazy weekend.
Rating: 4/5
Bon Appetit Pains Au Chocolat (8) Aldi, £1.49 (19p each)
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The chocolate is very good in these considering what great value for money they areCredit: Damien McFadden
THE packet says these were baked in France – and while they might have lost a bit of their je ne sais quoi on the journey across the Channel, they don’t taste bad at all for a supermarket effort.
The chocolate is very good, considering what great value for money they offer with eight per pack.
You get 12 per cent cocoa, which has an intense flavour.
The two smooth runs of dark choc are evenly distributed through each croissant, so there is plenty to keep you happy.
Lovely once warmed up, and the aroma is very appetising.
The pastry, while golden and crumbly, tasted extremely sweet, and there is no butter listed in the ingredients, which does affect the texture.
Rather oily when heated, too.
Perfect for snacking, or as an anytime treat, and super value for money.
Rating: 4/5
Pains Au Chocolat (4) M&S or ocado.com, £3 (75p each)
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Marks and Spencers’ offering are the biggest but also the priciestCredit: Damien McFadden
WITH only four in the packet, they might be a bit pricier per croissant.
But these are absolute whoppers, easily the biggest and bounciest pastries of those I tried.
They are delicious, made with all-butter pastry that gives them a flaking, rich outer.
It crumbles all over your chin when you bite in.
The genuine French dark chocolate inside is top notch.
It is thick and chunky and there is plenty of it packed into the middle, so you get the taste on every bite and don’t feel short-changed.
Warm these up and they taste so good you could have bought them from a Paris boulangerie. A shame they are so expensive.
Rating: 3/5
Rowan Hill Pains Au Chocolat (8) Lidl, £1.29 (16p each)
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These are cheap but you don’t get much for your moneyCredit: Damien McFadden
WHILE unbeatable on price, these were not the most enjoyable pastries I tried.
The ingredients say each one contains 12 per cent chocolate, but the filling seems very mean.
You do get two strips layered though the pastry but these were very thin.
I found the pastry dry, chewy and unpleasantly soft, with an odd vanilla scent and flavour.
Tasted more like a soft bread roll than a traditional French treat.
They are a bargain, and being individually wrapped makes them useful for a grab-and-go eat.
But I’d rather spend a few pence more for a better pain, or just have a piece of chocolate with my cuppa.
Rating: 1/5
Bakery Pains Au Chocolat (4) Co-Op, £2.35 (59p each)
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Co-op’s offerings are better eaten warmed upCredit: Damien McFadden
THESE are somewhat smaller croissants and their ratios overall seem rather unbalanced.
Despite being more compact, they were generous on the chocolate filling, with double portions of tasty cocoa that’s bitter and authentically French tasting, not overly sweet.
Very thick pieces, too, which were satisfying to scoff.
The chocolate adds good moisture to the pastry, which is needed as, despite containing 17 per cent butter, the dough outers were pale and tasted rather dry.
Also, the bottoms were thick and bread-like.
Better once warmed up but be careful not to burn your mouth as there’s so much liquid filling inside they get oozy.
Rating: 2/5
Bakery Pains Au Chocolat (8) Asda, £1.98 (25p each)
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These have a nice hint of sweetness that’s not overdoneCredit: Damien McFadden
SUPER value for money, and the pains au choc in this packet looked and smelled deliciously fresh.
Like the Sainsbury’s croissants, these offerings from Asda have a denser-tasting pastry outer, probably due to the inclusion of some rye flour, which also gives them a darker colour.
Made with butter so they taste nice and rich, this also gives the flakes a lovely softness when you bite in, which I really enjoyed.
A nice hint of sweetness that’s not overdone. Lovely chocolate, and plenty of it.
A little flat to look at and not the biggest pains on the block, but they puffed up beautifully in the oven, so you don’t feel disappointed.
Very tasty and a super price. Would pair well with a hot chocolate.
Rating: 4/5
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Who: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) vs Arsenal What: UEFA Champions League semifinal, second leg Where: Parc des Princes, Paris, France When: Wednesday at 9pm (19:00 GMT)
PSG and Arsenal continue their quest to win a maiden UEFA Champions League title when they clash in the second leg of their semifinal in Paris.
PSG’s away victory over the Gunners in the opening leg at Emirates Stadium on April 29 has the Parisians firming up as the favourites to progress to the final.
The Gunners face the daunting – but not impossible – task on Wednesday of needing to beat the French champions on the road if they want to reach the Champions League final for just the second time in their history.
Here is all to know before the semifinal decider between two of Europe’s most talented football clubs:
What happened in the opening leg?
PSG took a big step towards reaching the final when Ousmane Dembele’s early goal sealed a 1-0 win at Arsenal in a tense first leg of the semifinal.
Dembele fired home off the post in the fourth minute as PSG dominated the opening stages, and manager Luis Enrique’s side held firm to take a precious advantage back to the French capital.
When did Arsenal and PSG last reach a UEFA Champions League final?
Neither side have won Europe’s premier football competition, but both have lost a final.
PSG made their only final appearance in the 2019-2020 season, losing to German side Bayern Munich 1-0 at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal.
Arsenal’s participation in a UEFA Champions League final was 19 long years ago for Gunners fans, and they lost to Barcelona 2-1 in the 2005-2006 season at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France.
Team news: PSG
Star striker Dembele, who limped off with a minor hamstring strain after scoring the game winner against Arsenal in the first leg in London, has been passed fit to play in the return leg, Enrique said on Tuesday.
Dembele, 27, is PSG’s top scorer this season with 33 goals in all competitions.
PSG’s regular squad is otherwise injury-free with Desire Doue tipped to re-enter the attacking winger role at the expense of France international Bradley Barcola.
PSG’s French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele, next to head coach Luis Enrique, takes part in a training session on the eve of their second leg semifinal UEFA Champions League match against Arsenal at the club’s training ground in Poissy, west of Paris, on May 6, 2025 [Franck Fife/AFP]
Team news: Arsenal
Key midfielder Thomas Partey returns to the side after sitting out the first leg against PSG with a suspension, restoring manager Mikel Arteta’s preferred midfield trio with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
Jurrien Timber is questionable for this match as he continues to battle back to full fitness after a knee injury. But in some good news for the club, the Dutch defender was seen training with the Gunners squad on Tuesday shortly before they departed for France.
Sidelined stars Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori and Jorginho are all likely to play before the end of the Premier League season, but none of them is in contention for Champions League selection unless Arsenal make it to the final at the end of May.
Gabriel, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all out until next season.
Arsenal’s Dutch defender #12 Jurrien Timber, left, and Ghanaian midfielder #5 Thomas Partey take part in a team training session in London Colney, north of London, on May 6, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg match against PSG [Glyn Kirk/AFP]
Possible lineups:
Arsenal possible XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
The teams have played on six prior occasions across all competitions:
Arsenal wins: 3
PSG wins: 1
Draws: 2
What the managers had to say:
Arsenal’s Arteta: “If you want to be in the Champions League final, you have to do something special. We’re going to have to do something special in Paris to be there.”
PSG’s Enrique: “We’re bound to suffer because our opponents don’t have a favourable result. We need to match our performance as closely as possible in the first leg to win the return leg and stay true to our ideas.”
When and where is the 2025 UEFA Champions League final?
The winner of this semifinal heads to Germany on May 31 for the Champions League final.
European football’s largest annual showpiece will be played at the 75,000-capacity Allianz Arena in Munich.
One of the world’s great football venues – Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany – will host the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League final [File: Matthias Schrader/AP]
