Arsenal’s players stood there as Paris Saint-Germain celebrated. Myles Lewis-Skelly shook his head. Kai Havertz was still in discussions with the referee. Declan Rice and Gabriel clapped and almost forced themselves to look at their booth.
When the trophy lifting was done, they trudged off. For Arsenal, this will be fuel, as Mikel Arteta is so fond of saying. They used their near misses in the Premier League to propel them forward. To do the same in the Champions League is the challenge now.
However, it must be difficult to see it that way, because Arsenal were desperately close to the season of all seasons in Budapest. PSG dominated the ball and looked the superior side, but when Arteta talked about fine margins, you could see his point.
For long periods it was a defensive masterclass. Rarely have PSG been made to look as toothless as in a first half where Arsenal had the two best chances. Luis Enrique’s team had 76 percent of the ball possession but scored none of the goals.
After that it was about penalties given and denied, scored and missed. David Raya made the only save of the shoot-out and finished it still with his head in his hands. Arsenal beaten by the odd goal of seven. They pushed a fantastic side to the limit.
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Sky Sports News’ Dharmesh Sheth delivers his verdict from Budapest on Arsenal’s defeat
For the supporters who stayed behind to commiserate with their players long after Gabriel’s effort had cleared the crossbar, it is a familiar feeling of frustration. No team has played more matches in the European Cup – 226 – without winning the trophy.
But while Arsenal’s previous last appearance in Paris two decades ago felt like an end, this is a little different. At that time the club had just said goodbye to Highbury. It was Robert Pires’ last match. Thierry Henry was gone the following year.
This should only be the start for the newly crowned Premier League champions. Key players are in their prime. Others are on the rise. The sense of progress underlined by their Premier League title is echoed by their growing strength in Europe.
Arsenal have gone a 15-match Champions League season without losing within 120 minutes. Two years ago they left the last eight. Last time it was the final four. They are moving closer – to PSG and to the price. You win or you learn.
But that sense of a missed opportunity will linger. Because while PSG had the stronger starting lineup, this was a game that should have swung their way as time went on. Did Arsenal do enough to understand the game? To seize some control when the moment came?
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Jamie Carragher discusses the lack of attacking quality in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal
Luis Enrique replaced Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, then Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele. In extra time, captain Marquinhos and player of the match Vitinha left. Arsenal looked to have more strength in depth than their illustrious opponents.
In that context, could the plan have changed? Arteta spoke afterwards that PSG were so good that this forced Arsenal to play the game they did. But Raya’s decision to kick wide was a choice. A more balanced approach was possible.
Arteta knows that there are no guarantees that the chance will come again. Valencia reached back-to-back Champions League finals at the turn of the century. The last team to lose a Champions League final on penalties was Atletico Madrid a decade ago.
Neither club has won the trophy yet.
Of course, Arsenal don’t have to look far for inspiration. It wasn’t that long ago that PSG were seen as the club that couldn’t get over the line. Now they are the ones who will not relinquish this trophy and there is talk of dynasties and dominance under the peer Luis Enrique.
Could it ever be Arsenal? Arteta will keep building. He will adjust, in the market and on the field, maybe make this team more expansive again. He has definitely earned more resources in attack. At times he tried to perform an operation with a hammer.
But as his players take the adoration back to north London, the encouragement for Arteta and for Arsenal supporters is that the journey is not over. The looks on the faces as PSG’s players swung in front of them revealed as much. The hunger remains.
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