Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to channel the heartache of their Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain into motivation for future success. The Gunners lost 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, with Gabriel Magalhães missing the decisive spot-kick.
Kai Havertz gave Arsenal an early lead, but PSG equalised through a second-half penalty from Ousmane Dembélé. Arteta was booked for protesting after Noni Madueke was denied a penalty in extra time, and David Raya’s save from Nuno Mendes in the shootout was not enough as Eberechi Eze also missed.
“Pain, that’s it,” said Arteta. “When you are so close in the competition, and you are a few penalties away from winning the biggest club competition, that’s the way we should feel. First of all you have to go through that pain, digest it, and turn it into fuel.”
Arteta praised PSG as “the best team in the world” but expressed disappointment over the penalty decision. “I watched all the penalties in the competition in the last 72 hours, but that easily can be a penalty,” he said. “We will have to improve to try and get a different outcome.”
Declan Rice backed Arsenal to bounce back, saying: “Some of the best teams ever have lost on penalties in finals. It’s cruel, but that’s football. This is only the start for us.” PSG manager Luis Enrique, whose side retained the title, acknowledged Arsenal’s defensive strength: “They are strong physically, they know how to defend and it was very tough.”
