BUDAPEST - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called on the club’s hierarchy to make quick, smart, and bold decisions to continue the team’s upward trajectory after their Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.
The defeat marked Arsenal’s second loss in the European final, though they can take solace in their first English domestic title in 22 years. Kai Havertz gave Arsenal an early lead in Budapest, but Ousmane Dembele’s penalty leveled the match, and PSG ultimately prevailed in the shootout.
Arteta emphasized the need for ambition. "If you want to reach another level, we’re going to have to show that ambition," he said. "It demands to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart."
PSG dominated possession, controlling 72 percent of the ball, while Arsenal’s defense, led by Gabriel and William Saliba, held firm. Gabriel’s missed penalty in the shootout decided the match.
Arteta declined to use a potential penalty for his side in extra time as an excuse, insisting the team must improve. Captain Martin Odegaard and midfielder Declan Rice echoed the manager’s disappointment, acknowledging the fine margins that decided the final.