Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that losing the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain was very tough to accept.
They looked set for more celebrations when Kai Havertz fired in an early goal for the Gunners in the seventh minute of the clash at the Puskas Arena.
However, Ousmane Dembele’s equaliser from the penalty spot levelled the game and the two European giants were stuck in a stalemate from then on.
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Despite a phenomenal season that saw the Gunners claim the Premier League title, Arsenal fell short in Budapest, losing 4-3 in a tense penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 following extra-time.
During his post-match press conference on TNT Sports, Arteta expressed his devastation and insisted that his side should have had a penalty for a perceived foul on Noni Madueke.
“Yes, it is very tough to accept when you are so consistent in the competition all the way to the final and in the end you lose the trophy on penalty kicks, so it is a difficult one,” he said.
On Arsenal possibly deserving a penalty: “I watch it back and it could easily be a penalty. Especially we see the penalty they gave me this year in the competition.
“This season, the referee made a decision, and he made a different one with Cristhian Mosquera and that is an important one.”
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While acknowledging the pain of missing out on Europe’s biggest prize, Arteta emphasized his immense pride in his squad’s resilience throughout a grueling 63-game season in all competitions.
The squad now shifts to healing and celebrating their domestic success, while using the Champions League heartbreak as a critical stepping stone to build toward European glory in the seasons to come.
