Arsenal FC is closer to winning the Champions League title than it has been for a long time. But nerves failed in the penalty shootout. The never ending story continues.
There they were again. The prophecies of doom. The mockery anyway. Arsenal FC has once again lost in a crucial game, “bottled”, say the (young) English people. Failing under pressure. The memes practically write themselves. It’s a British running joke. A bitter one for everyone who supports the Gunners.
It had started so well after all. If you could imagine a start to a Champions League final, it would be like this. A long, blocked ball to Kai Havertz was enough, the DFB striker whipped towards the goal on the wing and mercilessly nailed the ball past keeper Matvei Safonov under the crossbar. A dream goal. Plus a historical one. No other German has ever scored in two different Champions League finals.
1-0 after six minutes. A gift for a team as defensively strong as the Londoners. Arsenal were very deep and largely had the favored Parisians under control. The axis around Gabriel and William Saliba worked, even Havertz was close to his own penalty area. The famous and feared Paris attack block around Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué didn’t achieve much in the first half. Even 80 percent possession of the ball was of little use.
First defeat, of all things, in the final
But while Arsenal forgot to do something forward in the second half (hardly measurable xG values), PSG became stronger. A foul by Cristhian Mosquera on Kvaratskhelia resulted in a penalty. World footballer Dembélé kept his nerve and scored the equalizer, the PSG fans lit the first Bengalos.
However, the decision had to be made on penalties in a crime-like manner and produced two tragic figures on Arsenal’s side in Eberechi Eze and Gabriel. The latter fired the decisive fifth penalty over the goal and sealed the next trauma for the North Londoners.
Because they haven’t been this close to the title they wanted for a long time, most recently in 2006. There was a lot of drama back then too. Jens Lehmann knocked down Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o in great distress in the 18th minute and received a red card. When they were outnumbered, the Gunners fought like lions and even took the lead. In the end, the world class of Eto’o, Deco and Ronaldinho was enough for the Catalans to win a narrow and lackluster 2-1.
Arsenal had to wait 20 years for their next final chance. Previously they had failed again and again. Even in the round of 16 for a full seven years (2011 to 2017), regularly at FC Bayern and FC Barcelona. Just a running joke. Now the titleless time on the biggest stage should be over.
Missed double with handle pot
Mikel Arteta arrived in 2019. The Spaniard made the London offensive school more efficient. By 2025/26 at the latest it was clear: dying in beauty is no longer possible. Based on a rock-solid defense and many standard variations, Arsenal FC metamorphosed into a real top team and sometimes won dirty. This brings you criticism, but in case of doubt it also brings you titles. Because this year it really happened. 22 years after the invincibles around Thierry Henry and Co., the Invincibles, Arteta led the team back to the English championship. The cheering a week and a half ago was gigantic. Rival ManCity around star coach Pep Guardiola was dethroned. While one era ends there, Arsenal hopes to start a new one.
The crowning glory was the double. The hope for the handle pot was huge. After all, Arsenal had never won the Champions League before. After the bitter final exit, local rival Chelsea FC also reminded of this with a smug post that fans could book a stadium tour with the trophies, because Stamford Bridge is the home of the trophies in London. Plus a picture of the handle pot. This slap in the face was right. Even the Blues are trolling Arsenal.
It should still be celebrated
However, the English press, which is not always known for empathy, felt a lot of pity for Arsenal. “Bad luck and heartbreak. It just wasn’t meant to be for Arsenal,” stated the “Daily Mirror”, probably summing up Arsenal FC’s unofficial club motto. “The Sun” groaned that it wasn’t fair that, of all people, the powerful defender Gabriel became the tragic protagonist with his missed shot. But there was also some criticism: Did Arsenal actually deserve the title with only 25 percent possession of the ball?
In the end it’s relatively simple: When it mattered most, Arsenal’s nerves gave out. The first lost game of the premier class season came in the final. Bad timing. The dream of the first handle pot shattered again. Arsenal raged against the German final referee Daniel Siebert several times, but it wasn’t the fault of the referee. He actually did a very good job.
Little consolation for Arsenal. For Declan Rice, the final result was “devastating” and “devastating”, and he defiantly added: “We’ve come a long way this year and this is just the beginning.” First of all, there will also be celebrations with the fans in London. Only with a trophy, but at least. And at least for these hours the prophecies of doom should then be dispelled.
