Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal realise evolution needed after PSG final loss

BUDAPEST – The last time Arsenal reached a Champions League final, they lost it, and then it took 20 long years to claw their way back to that stage again.

After their agonising penalty shoot-out defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on May 30, their goal is not only to return as soon as possible, but also to finally claim the trophy for themselves.

After winning the English Premier League for the first time in 22 years, Mikel Arteta’s side have proven they are back among the elite, but the battle against PSG also exposed clear areas to improve on.

Arteta insisted his team can end their pain, after a fifth consecutive defeat in a European final, if they evolve wisely and quickly.

“We want to reach another level and we’re going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it’s going to demand to be very, very ambitious... and very smart,” he said.

Penalty misses from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes ended their dream of writing a new chapter in the team’s history.

Their celebratory parade for the English title in London on May 31 took place under the shadow of what might have been – and what one day might still be.

Arteta highlighted the calibre and quality of PSG’s attackers, a way of signalling the two sides are not evenly matched in that department.

“What they are able to do with the ball, with individual actions, I haven’t seen it,” said the Spaniard, hinting his own side should reinforce in the summer if they want to overcome Europe’s dominant force.

He added that his team were not in the right “condition”, after a gruelling season in which he often relied on a small core of players.

Last year Arsenal brought in Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke among others, but Arteta began with all four on the bench in the final.

Mostly, through his six-and-a-half seasons at the helm, Arsenal have worked with limited investment and developed youth players like Bukayo Saka.

Kai Havertz started up front and scored, but Arsenal could still use stronger options alongside Saka.

Especially when compared to PSG’s forward line, featuring Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, this season’s best attacker in the Champions League, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and French firecracker Desire Doue.

PSG hit 45 goals in the competition, matching the all-time record set by Barcelona in 1999-2000.

The underlying feeling is that Arsenal’s approach has to evolve and improve too.

This season they have been remarkably strong defensively, not losing a single match in the competition before the final, and conceding just seven goals including Dembele’s penalty that forced extra time.

But they had only 25 per cent possession against PSG and one shot on target in 120 minutes.

Arsenal know that playing like they did this season, it is possible to win the Champions League.

They were fortunate to face Atletico Madrid and Sporting Lisbon on the road to the final, compared to PSG’s trickier side of the draw.

In the future, opponents will find ways to defend better against their set pieces. Football rarely stands still.

“Maybe it will not last a lot of time, football is like this – ‘Today it’s true, tomorrow it’s a lie’, but today we can say we are the best in Europe,” said PSG midfielder Vitinha, highlighting that even his triumphant side must keep progressing.

The positive thing is that Arteta understands this.

“We need to do better, to improve and find different margins to get the outcome that we want,” he said.

They do not need a drastic overhaul but a course correction of a few degrees to become more of a threat from open play, in addition to maintaining their defensive strength. AFP