Grit and patience pay off as PSG find another way to triumph

May 30 : Paris St Germain equalled the Champions League record for goals scored in one season in the competition as they retained the trophy by edging out Arsenal in a penalty shootout but their triumph was as much about grit as their renowned flair.

A year after demolishing Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich with an attacking master class, this time they found another way to win despite bashing into a solid red wall in the Puskas Arena.

"One of the best things we have as a team is our resilience. We're able to overcome all the problems," PSG manager Luis Enrique, whose side dominated the final which ended 1-1 after extra time, told reporters.

"Today we showed that even if Arsenal are the best with a one-goal advantage that we could make it."

The PSG of old might have been spooked after falling behind to a Kai Havertz goal after six minutes on Saturday against an Arsenal team that had conceded only six goals and kept a record-equalling nine clean sheets on the way to the final.

Especially as the silky interplay and bewildering movement PSG have become known for under Luis Enrique was lacking throughout a frustrating first half in which they barely tested Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya despite overwhelming possession.

With the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue shackled by an oppressive Arsenal side who were content to smother the game, things looked ominous for PSG.

They showed patience though, and refused to panic.

PSG ended the game with 837 completed passes to Arsenal's 199 and more than 70 per cent possession.

Yet until Kvaratskhelia burst into the box midway through the second half and drew a foul from Cristhian Mosquera to earn a penalty, which Ousmane Dembele converted, it looked as though the puzzle set by Mikel