So close to glory, so far from immortality - Arteta left heartbroken
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 31.05.26. | 00:00
A season of courage, growth and silverware ended with tears in Budapest as the Gunners fell agonisingly short of European glory
For most of the Saturday evening, Arsenal looked capable of completing a historic double. Instead, they left Budapest with only one trophy to show for a season that promised so much.
The Gunners fell at the final hurdle in the Champions League, losing a dramatic penalty shootout to Paris Saint-Germain after a tense and evenly contested final. While PSG celebrated a second consecutive European crown, Arsenal were left to wonder how a season that once offered four potential trophies ended with just the Premier League title.
The pain was evident in Mikel Arteta's voice after the final whistle.
"It is very difficult to accept," the Arsenal manager admitted. "You are so consistent throughout the competition, you reach the final, and then you lose the trophy on penalties. That's incredibly hard to take."
One of the key talking points came midway through the match when Noni Madueke went down inside the PSG penalty area. Arteta was furious that no spot-kick was awarded and remained unconvinced after reviewing the footage.
"I watched it again and it could very easily have been given as a penalty," he said. "When you look at some of the penalties awarded in this competition this season, it's easy to understand why I think that. The referee made one decision there and a different one in another situation. It was a very important moment."
Still, Arteta stopped short of blaming the officials for the defeat.
Instead, he pointed to a collection of fine margins that ultimately went against Arsenal - from penalty-box incidents to the shootout itself.
"In both penalty areas, through the decisions that were made and then through the penalties, those little details were not on our side. But what happened, happened. We have to become better, improve and find those extra advantages that help you win trophies."
The shootout itself brought further scrutiny.
With several of Arsenal's regular penalty takers no longer on the pitch after extra time, Gabriel and Eberechi Eze stepped forward and both failed to convert.
Arteta defended his choices.
"Gabriel wanted to take the fifth penalty," he explained. "Normally, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz would be among the first takers, but once the match went into extra time and penalties we knew others would have to take responsibility. We still had quality. Ebs almost never misses penalties in training, but doing it in a Champions League final is a completely different challenge."
Despite the heartbreak, Arteta's message to his squad afterward was one of pride rather than criticism.
"I told them how proud I am of them," he said. "We know everything we've been through as a club and the circumstances we've worked under. To lead this group of players and watch them represent this badge has been something special."
The Spaniard reserved particular praise for the spirit and togetherness within his dressing room.
"Even if I said thank you a million times, it wouldn't be enough. Not because we won the Premier League, not because we reached the League Cup final, and not because we reached the Champions League final. It's because of the moments we shared every single day. That's worth more than anything."
The defeat will hurt, but he also believes Arsenal's progress should not be forgotten amid the disappointment.
"We hadn't won the league for 22 years and this was only the second Champions League final in our history. We have to recognise and appreciate the season we've had. That doesn't remove the pain, of course. You have to feel it, accept it and learn from it."
And once that pain subsides, Arsenal's focus will inevitably turn to another European challenge.
"You have to process it and then use it as fuel to reach another level," Arteta said. "I also want to congratulate PSG because, in my opinion, they are the best team in the world. What they can do with the ball and through individual quality deserves enormous respect. Credit to them."