Arsenal have undoubtedly had their finest season in recent years, finding glory in the Premier League and being one step away from conquering Europe for the first time. PSG narrowly edged Arsenal to the UEFA Champions League title, winning the tie on penalties, marking it the first time the final was decided on penalties in a decade. Despite being tipped in the biggest moment of many of their careers thus far, all the Arsenal players can hold their heads high, rekindling faith in the fans.
For many, losing in the UEFA Champions League final can break a team, with the feeling of being so close and not getting over the line, adding increased pressure in future campaigns. For Arsenal, there is a feeling this will be different, as they have already experienced their fair share of adversity over the years. Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have rejuvenated football in North London and have laid the foundations for a long period of success. Already, football betting odds have Arsenal among the favourites heading into next season, a reflection of just how far this squad has come under Arteta’s leadership. To bounce back from the defeat in the final, Arteta and Arsenal will need to visit many areas of improvement.
The Build Up to the Final
For Arsenal, not much went wrong in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, proving to the world that they have what it takes to compete with the very best. In the previous instalments of the competition, Arsenal have shown some inconsistency, producing an enthralling demolition of Spain’s giants, Real Madrid, then rolling over to PSG in the semi-finals. In this UEFA Champions League campaign, things were different for the Gunners. After topping the group, Arsenal were elected as one of the favourites to win the competition, with a favourable draw that saw them avoid some of the biggest clubs in the world. With that being said, Arsenal’s path to the final was far from easy.
Arsenal ended the group stage with an impressive record, winning every game including the likes of Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, and more. In the Round of 16, Arsenal would experience their first ‘panic’ moment, shifting live odds on sportsbook platforms, after finding themselves 1-0 down to Bayer Leverkusen, until a late equaliser. Arsenal went on to wrap up the Round of 16 at the home leg, winning 2-0.
Arsenal then faced Sporting CP, which was a tie closer than anticipated, although Arsenal failed to concede a goal over both legs. Following a 1-0 win at the Jose Alvalade Stadium, Arsenal defended a 0-0 draw at the Emirates, taking them to the semi-finals to play Atletico Madrid.
The first leg took place at the Estadio Metropolitano and saw Arsenal being 1-0 up at half-time thanks to a Gyokeres penalty. Athelti talisman Julian Alvarez shortly equalised after the half-time break, with a penalty of his own. Returning to London, Arsenal were confident and once again would find themselves 1-0 up at half-time. Arsenal defended vigilantly to progress to the UEFA Champions League final.
Mistakes in the Final
Ultimately, Arsenal made only a few mistakes in the UEFA Champions League final, with the tie coming down to fine margins. PSG were undeniably the better side out of the two, dominating the possession, creating the most chances, and frequently playing in the Arsenal half. With that being said, Arsenal’s plan was going swimmingly until PSG were awarded a penalty. The penalty was a pivotal moment in the tie, as Arsenal could no longer rely on their defensive solidity to win in 90 minutes. The scores were level after 90 minutes, and then neither team could find the net in extra time, prompting penalties.
PSG would take first in the shootout, towards their own fans, giving them an immediate advantage. With the score 2-1 in favour of PSG, Eze was the first to miss, placing PSG in a favourable spot. On the following penalty, Nuno Mendes missed for PSG, and Rice equalised the scoring. After two calmly taken penalties from Hakimi for PSG and Martinelli for Arsenal, the tie was essentially in sudden death. Beraldo scored, and Gabriel missed, crowning PSG as the champions.
A Big Summer Ahead
To bounce back after coming so close to triumph, Arsenal will require smart scouting and business in the transfer window. There is a remarkable core there for Arsenal, which can be built on to add additional depth to help with the increased workload. The main position Arsenal will be looking to improve in the upcoming transfer window is the left wing position. Already, Arsenal are finding their names in transfer rumours, with interest in Aston Villa’s star Morgan Rogers. Since joining Aston Villa, Morgan Rogers has stepped up to the next level, becoming one of the best attackers in the league, and looks set to move to one of the top clubs. For Aston Villa, Rogers operates on the left side of the attack, what some would call the ‘left 10’, though he commonly finds himself out wide on the left wing.
Another position Arsenal may look to improve is the striker, adding the required depth alongside Gyokeres, with Gabriel Jesus’s exit looking likely. One name floating around with numerous European giants’ interests is Julian Alvarez, who looks set to leave Atleti in the summer. For Arsenal, Alvarez would be an incredible statement, putting the squad in a position to win back-to-back Premier League titles and potentially challenge for the Champions League again.