Topics: Arsenal, Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool
Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg saw Arsenal defeated by Paris Saint-Germain, who will face Inter Milan in the final in Munich.
Arsenal were beaten 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate as Luis Enrique's PSG eliminated Premier League opposition for the third round in a row.
The Parisians were a goal to the good when fans in the Parc des Princes and watching on TV were informed that the VAR crew were reviewing an incident with a view to awarding a penalty.
At Boxpark in Wembley, where AFTV were watching along, a wave of relief washed over the assembled professional football fanatics acting totally naturally in front of the big screen.
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Slowly, reality dawned. The check was not for an Arsenal penalty and a chance to claw their way back into the tie but for a PSG spot kick that might have finished it off.
Myles Lewis-Skelly handled a shot from Achraf Hakimi, taking the sting out of it and allowing it to drift safely into the gloves of Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.
Hakimi showed no interest in a potential penalty but the on-field decision was reviewed and overturned.
Minutes earlier, Arsenal fans thought they'd seen a foul on Bukayo Saka in the other box. At Boxpark, the assumption seems to have been that a very late VAR review was taking place for that.
No such luck, but no immediate harm done either. Vitinha's atrocious penalty was saved by Raya and PSG had to wait a few more minutes before Hakimi went one better to add to Fabian Ruiz's first-half opener.
Arsenal pulled one back but yet another sensational performance from PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma helped to send them to the final.
Rival fans online thought the misunderstanding was hilarious.
"Hahahahhahahahahhahhaha," posted TheRedmenTV.
"I thought it was at first as well," admitted one Liverpool fan.
"I was in a pub full of Gooners last night as my Mrs is one, they all thought the same, cheering for it and then realised it was for PSG," said another. "I actually thought the challenge on Saka was a penalty and the handball was harsh but in the laws of the game it is a pen!"
"This is literally the definition of their fanbase, I have a feeling they’ll have a significant drop off next season Arteta will leave and they’ll all shut up," mused one insightful genius on X, formerly Twitter.
"Smartest Arsenal fans," parped another.
One fan zinged: "Only chance Arsenal fans had of getting near Wembley this year."
"These guys have no shame," posted another user, unwittingly summing up the whole story.
