Mikel Arteta points out a ‘transfer priority’ as two Arsenal players might be let go after the PSG Champions League final loss.
Arsenal have apparently spotted a key area they want to improve right after their tough loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
On Saturday, May 30, Mikel Arteta’s team was ahead for most of the match thanks to a calm finish from Kai Havertz just five minutes in. In the first half, PSG struggled to create chances, while Arsenal packed their defense and barely lost the ball.
But 19 minutes into the second half, Cristhian Mosquera was judged to have fouled PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inside the box, and PSG got a penalty. Ousmane Dembele, the Ballon d’Or winner, stepped up and scored to make it 1-1.
The rest of the second half and extra time didn’t have many clear chances, even though PSG, the current champions, looked the more dangerous. Bradley Barcola missed two close chances for PSG.
Then it went to penalties. Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze was the first to miss, but David Raya saved PSG’s Nuno Mendes’ penalty to keep it level. Declan Rice scored Arsenal’s third penalty, and both teams scored their fourth.
The shootout’s final moment came when Lucas Beraldo scored for PSG, meaning Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães had to score to stay in. Sadly, his shot went way over, and PSG celebrated wildly, becoming only the second team after Real Madrid to win back-to-back Champions League titles. Some Arsenal players and fans were very upset, and PSG defender Marquinhos, who is also Gabriel’s teammate on Brazil’s national team, comforted him after the miss.
Despite the heartbreak, Arsenal will probably look to improve their squad before next season. Right after the final, journalist David Ornstein from The Athletic said that Arteta’s top priority this summer is adding a left winger. This might mean less playing time for Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard or could even lead to them leaving.
Ornstein also mentioned that Arsenal want to improve at right-back, add another central midfielder, and bring in a new striker to support Havertz, Viktor Gyökeres, and Gabriel Jesus.
On TNT Sports, Ornstein said Arsenal are in a great financial position after a strong season. “The finances are in fantastic shape,” he said. “This has been a successful season with progress and maybe even more history to come. Revenues are soaring.”
He added, “This is a great time for Arsenal, which hasn’t always been the case. After moving to the Emirates Stadium, they struggled for a while, often selling top players and not competing well. But in recent years, the Kroenke family have invested heavily, even putting in their own money. Fans wanted success now, and it’s finally happening.”