Arsenal Banter 3

31 May 2026 11:44:41
Wow! That’s some tough truth and the boss needs to look a bit at himself if we are to keep improving as we didn’t spend great last window in terms of top top class additions to starting 11. Still need a CF and LW (seriously!) .

The lack of attacking intent led L'Equipe to go as far as claiming Arteta had 'rejected his Barcelona legacy'.

They wrote: 'For a long time, it seemed PSG would lose this final without even really playing, rendered powerless, locked down by the Gunners, who threw the key into the Danube before parking their double-decker bus in front of David Raya's goal.

'Mikel Arteta's rejection of a Barcelona legacy, on the cusp of the best night of his career, can justify his defeat, as can this statistic: Havertz's goal was Arsenal's only shot on target, a sorry mess with players like these, as if this club, built on attacking football, had shed all scruples to extinguish its reputation as a loser.

'

'Can you be European champion with only one shot on target, a constantly low block, and 25% possession? Perhaps, and even certainly. But it's quite fortunate that it didn't happen this Saturday night', they added.

Arsenal were content to protect their lead despite scoring so early.

Leandro Trossard and Cristian Mosquera were the two lowest rated stars - both handed three out of ten. Ode got a 4…

Some tough love is probably what’s required for us to kick in.

Still Champions and still an amazing season.

COYG.

31 May 2026 14:30:58
And how many shots on target did the 'best attacking team' in Europe manage? Fact is, they needed penalties in the game, and, afterwards, to beat us. And, add to that, not one team beat us all year in the CL. We just got unlucky at the end. It's a fantastic platform on which to build. Success doesn't happen overnight.

31 May 2026 14:52:32
It's still Arteta's Achilles heel. We need to figure out how to win rather than not to lose.

'A boring team that did nothing but defend' - Sir Alex Ferguson.

We need to add & get stronger & braver.

31 May 2026 10:25:08
Hope the boys are ready for their victory parade and they see what the league meant to the fans.

We need to look at last night and learn. You have to have a proper RB otherwise you lose Saka or a penalty. He's no RB but had a strong game. Timber should have played.

Gabs and Rice were outfield players of the year for me and played a blinder. Not sure how or why Gabs stepped up and the boss let him ( that's a key part ) but the rest is history and I hope we learn and move on. 1st penalty as key 5th in champ league final - thanks Gabs but let me ask a few others first.

Kai was outstanding and great goal but we ultimately lacked a bit of courage to attack but we more so lacked that cutting edge up front as we had opportunities but not quite there. Vik was terrible and like against most top teams hindered us - he couldn't hold onto anything and that caused us problems. Probably not helped that no Red shirt was there to pick up the pieces.

We really lacked quality in CAM, wings and striker which was where we were last season - personally I feel what we added last year were solid SQUAD members but not enough to improve the starting 11. Noni isn't that guy, Vik isn't that guy and I don't think our style has brought Eze to the front as he's disappeared too often. Shame as Eze was the only one that excited me. The addition of Zubi has meant our defensive midfielder has pushed further forward so we are not dynamic enough with Zubi and Rice V MLS and Rice.

We have been defensive but we've achieved a lot. We should have strengthened in Jan and we should have bought better.

"The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining" - Arteta has gotten the sun shining on our great club again, put us in places we haven't been for a while BUT has spent a fortune and needs to have a strong window to go to the next level.

What a great year! It's been a long time coming and it's a well well deserved parade!

31 May 2026 09:05:01
Feeling pretty flat this morning after all the emotion of last night so I can't imagine what the players and staff are feeling.

I hope all the fans going to the parade can shakw off their disappointment and give our boys a rousing welcome home.

To lose to the best team in Europe by a penalty taken by a defender means the margins are so small. Come the new season our strength of character will be vital and over the past few years we have proved we have this so we will go again next year.



I know a few of you need to win at all costs and I hope you can soon shake off the disappointment and enjoy the summer, the World Cup and the transfer window.

We are so nearly there.

Have a great day if you are going today and keep the faith, we are champions of England! And that was the trophy we needed most 💪 🔥 ⚽️ 🏆.

31 May 2026 09:33:47
Absolutely lovely post, Sally.

31 May 2026 09:45:57
100% Sally, it's been our best season in a very long time, and in my opinion we should definitely be enjoying what was achieved rather than focusing too much on what we didn't manage to do.


It could possibly be another 22 years before this time comes again. Hopefully it won't be, and this season is just the start, but none of us ever genuinely know what the future might or might not bring.

31 May 2026 10:38:27
100% 62. 😊

31 May 2026 10:47:52
We need to enjoy what we've achieved, and without overshadowing it, look to see why we didn't get more and ask whether we have the appetite and skillset to go one further. We all know how we played, the positions we need to add, plus a realisation that corners probably can't be our salvation next year.

I'm enjoying our success, but insisting we must improve on key positions that we didn't do a good enough job of upgrading last year, despite the budget. It shows the depth and quality we need. Upgrade the first-team attacking options, and get more intent in our play - the foundation and hard work have been done.

31 May 2026 11:15:56
Yesterday was in my top 2 best Champions League finals of all time, Sally, and I'd much rather watch Arsenal in 3rd Champions League final defeat in next season's than watch a final without us in it.

Obviously I'd rather see us win it next season, but by and large I really enjoyed yesterday and seeing our team play in the biggest game in club football again. 👏👏👏👏👏

31 May 2026 11:29:41
If you are going to be in it, be equipped to win it & play to win it. Being there is amazing, but we must equip ourselves better & when the opponent changes tactics, adjust. We need more quality at that level, which is top top top class.



To have a Champions League medal, how many players in the UK can say that? Having an FA Cup winner and loser medal was amazing, but a Champions League medal - you are elite!

31 May 2026 11:33:55
Me too, 62. I thought it was a great game to watch. A credit to the game of football, so many finals are disappointing.

31 May 2026 11:49:00
Did we do & offer enough to make it a great game, Sally? We showed great skill in defending, which is part of football, but 1 shot on target? I thought we were a little frustrating in the second half & beyond, to be honest - good because we were there, good because we scored, good because we stayed in the game, but PSG turned it up a bit after 1st half and our subs didn't work out at all.

31 May 2026 13:30:58
We were very much in it until the final whistle of extra time, Sally, and towards the very end of extra time we actually looked the most likely to grab a winner. I'm not sure there is another team in Europe who could have given this fantastic PSG team a more difficult night than we did.
We certainly have the potential to be even better next season, but improving on being Champions of England and losing the Champions League final on penalties won't be easy at all.

6 years ago, the room for improvement at the club was absolutely huge, and the fact that the room for improvement is now so small is a fantastic reflection of what our manager, players, board and the fans have achieved together.

👏👏👏👏 The Emirates has become a vibrant cauldron of passionate noise under Arteta's leadership, and no one would dream of referring to our stadium as "the library" nowadays. Of all the things Mikel has done for our club, this, in my opinion, has been his greatest achievement by far. We are a very different club to the club he came back to 6 to 7 years ago. ❤️👏👍

31 May 2026 14:38:35
It is appalling, really, that a club of Arsenal's stature has never won the Champions League.

31 May 2026 19:35:51
I'm pretty sure there will be additions, Sy. Nothing in life is perfect, but what I see at Arsenal is desire, total commitment and love for our club. In my world, you cant buy that!

31 May 2026 19:50:32
My point was, did we contribute enough to make it a great spectacle and a great game of football?

31 May 2026 22:19:47
Contribute in effort? Definitely. Contribute in passion? Totally. Contribute to the best game ever? Of course not, Sy. But I couldn't take my eyes off the game, and I was surprised it was 25/75% possession.

Now, if we can get our attack as solid as our defense, we will be totally awesome.


Getting the right players is never easy when you have Real Madrid, PSG, City etc. chasing the best players.

Can't wait for the transfer window, ole ole.

31 May 2026 07:00:41
On another subject, If I was Thomas Tuchel, I would be looking at MLS and saying I think I made a mistake not including in the WC squad.
Great comment by Deckers
About the penalties missed by Eze and Gabi.
We win together.
We lose together.

31 May 2026 10:46:40
Totally agree, Bill. What a player at such a young age. Midfield is his kingdom..

31 May 2026 07:39:17
{Ed's Note - PatrikBurgher has posted a new article entitled, Where Liverpool's Season Went Wrong Under Slot

30 May 2026 23:31:28
Obviously an amazing season but I really do think some big mistakes were made in the CL final by the Manager and coaching staff. Please feel free to disagree with me:
- Starting Odegaard. I actually forgot he was playing at one point.
- Mosquera - had a good first half but Timber should have come on at half time.


- The Saka/ Madueke substitution. I actually think this lost us the game. Madueke showed nothing different and then bottled taking a pen that Saka would have taken.
Fair play to all the player who stepped up to take a pen.
I’d never blamed Gabs someone how missing one.

31 May 2026 04:46:43
You r wrong about almost everything

31 May 2026 09:36:08
Hi, Glen and Wesley. I'm definitely with Wes on this, Glen, mate. I thought the substitutions were both positive and pretty much spot on.
The players gave everything they had to give. Goykeres had a very poor night, performance-wise, but the effort was definitely there.

I've no complaints about anyone, because ultimately you can only ever give what you have to give on the day and they all did that.

31 May 2026 10:35:38
I assume both Saka and Mosquera were subbed because both had yellows, Glenn. That is bound to hold back players in such an important game. I guess he brought on Madueke, so as not to get a red?

I don't know the reason Madueke didn't take a pen.

Perhaps in training he wasn't consistent. I read that Gabi was scoring penalties in every training session, so that's perhaps why.

30 May 2026 22:46:15
It is a tough one to take, lads. We had it in 2008 when JT missed that pen but came back and won it in 2012 and again in 2021. I was very disappointed in the comments Noni made about us the other day. My question is, why did he bottle the 5th pen and leave it to a defender?

{Ed025's Note - i was asking myself the same thing mate..

31 May 2026 01:19:07
Arteta lost you that game with his tactics. Yes, you won the PL, but the football was boring. You fans will no doubt be very happy with the season, but, deep down, are you really happy with the brand of football on display? You have a quality squad, but are they being used to their full potential? I'm not so sure.

31 May 2026 08:44:24
Hi Rd, a valid point and one which has been talked about amongst our fans and fans of other clubs constantly. Which players specifically do you think aren't being used to their full potential?

Naturally we were gutted to lose last night, but in the end we have that PL trophy in our cabinet, so let's see what next season brings.

31 May 2026 09:51:46
Personally, I think the pressure of not getting over the line in the previous 3 seasons weighed heavy on Arteta and ultimately transferred to the players and the fans. I think next season we will play with more freedom and be better to watch.

30 May 2026 22:34:14
Proud of the boys, they have put in absolutely everything this season. We are the PL champions!
May be the CL was a step too far for us this season, we aren’t clicking in attack, can thread an attack with 3/4/5 passes. PSG was always going to score so we should have been on the front foot after we took the lead.
Bring on next season!

31 May 2026 08:03:12
We took the best team in the world to penalties, and on almost any other night would have had our own pen on Noni to potentially win it in 90mins. Massive performance, and one the whole club can be proud of.

30 May 2026 22:14:23
Lipstick on a pig. Never gonna last.

Unless you are into that sort of thing?

Can not paint things different to what they are.

30 May 2026 20:38:52
Absolutely gutted, but I am so so proud of the team and the fans.
So much to look forward to.
With our club.
Take care each and everyone of you. ❤️ ♥️
COYG.

30 May 2026 21:03:06
Commiserations, guys, it's horrible losing a final. But, head up, not everyone gets to a final. Take the experience and see if you can build on it.

I do feel, though, that it may be a wasted opportunity, and I think PSG were there for the taking.

Decisions could have gone either way, but ultimately you lost on a lottery.

You'll be there or thereabouts next year, and, more importantly, now enjoy the celebrations tomorrow!

30 May 2026 23:44:02
Thanks, Red. Feel so sorry for our guys, we were so close.

Hope your new manager gets you firing on all cylinders next season. Well, as long as you are chasing us lol.

30 May 2026 23:13:34
We attacked- we scored. We showed PSG's weak underbelly and then decided to sit back for the rest of the game and deserved to concede.
Pens- I might get grief here but Madueke is an absolute pussy. That tackle he pulled out of in the league a couple of games ago, and then tonight went down at the final whistle pretending to be injured I'd give him away to be honest.

I'd be happy if we moved him on.
Why is a CB taking the 5th penalty? I will never blamed Gabs but what a shambles from the coaching staff.

30 May 2026 20:34:39
The right team won. Like it or not, we gave them the win as we played boring football. No team that has 25% possession deserves to lift a European trophy, end of.

30 May 2026 21:01:06
Supposed to be the best team in the world, managed 1 shot on target in the 90 and was a pen. Play to your strengths.

30 May 2026 21:50:59
If only we could rest players every week, because the League is 99% going to us regardless. Maybe we could play the same intensity as PSG in the CL.

30 May 2026 21:54:37
If 'strengths' is buying a massive bus to park, then go you! I want my team to fight to score, not to bore.

Arteta should leave. He is no Pep or Klopp, which he believes he is.

30 May 2026 22:52:23
The Saka, Madueke substitution lost us that match.
Fair play to Gabriel stepping up to take a pen.

{Ed025's Note - you need forwards taking the pens for me GH..

30 May 2026 23:15:58
I agree Ed, and if Saka was still in the pitch he would've taken one. Instead of Madueke who has no balls.