Losing a Champions League final on penalties is tough to take. At the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal had led PSG until the 65th minute, were pegged back to 1-1 and held on through 120 minutes, only to lose on penalties when Gabriel missed the Gunners’ fifth. It was devastating. However, it also capped off an incredible season for Arsenal that saw them become Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years, while simultaneously putting foundations in place for something even greater to be achieved.
A Season That Demands Recognition
Before the heartbreak of Budapest can be fully processed, the achievement must be celebrated. Arsenal won the Premier League title for the first time since the Invincibles season of 2003/04. They reached the final of the Champions League for the first time since 2006, going unbeaten in normal time throughout. This Arsenal side didn’t get lucky. They did all of this through hard work, commitment and belief.
The Experience Is Irreplaceable
There’s a reason clubs that reach the Champions League final often go on to reach more of them. The experience of playing at that level is simply not available anywhere else. Arsenal’s players now know exactly what it takes. They know what it feels like to lead, to be pegged back and to be involved in a penalty shootout. It’s knowledge that cannot be bought. It can only be earned.
The Squad is Only Getting Better
The spine of this Arsenal team still has age on its side. David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka all have plenty more years in the tank. Kai Havertz, who became the third player in history to score in Champions League finals for two different clubs when he rocketed in Arsenal’s opener, is still only 26. Most of Arteta’s squad isn’t at its peak. If anything, the majority of players are approaching it. So the Champions League final experience could help to accelerate that development further. The latest football betting markets indicate Arsenal will be genuine contenders to win Europe’s top club competition next season, and rightly so.
Arteta’s Drive Will Not Diminish
One glance at Mikel Arteta’s reaction in Budapest, a match in which he was booked alongside Declan Rice for protesting a penalty decision that didn’t go Arsenal’s way, tells you everything about the intensity he brings. This is a manager who will never accept losing. He will analyse every moment of the final, identify marginal gains, and arrive at pre-season with a plan. This mentality is what took Arsenal from being runners-up in the Premier League multiple times to champions. And it could be what takes them from Champions League finalists to winners.
The Hurt Will Be the Fuel
Every great team experiences the pain of near-misses before breaking through. Arsenal are a fantastic example, after missing out on winning the Premier League multiple times before going on to clinch the title this season. The pain of losing in Budapest, on penalties, will be the fuel they need to go again. The blueprint is there from being nearly men in the Premier League; they just need to apply the same determination and belief. The trophy will come eventually. And when it does, Arsenal will look back on that night in Budapest and know it was the reason why.
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