Arsenal see need to evolve after Champions League final loss

BUDAPEST: Arsenal's defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final has sharpened the club's focus on what must improve if they are to return and win the competition after finally reaching the showpiece match again.

The London side, who last made the final 20 years earlier and also lost on that occasion, were beaten on penalties on Saturday after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes at the Puskas Arena. Misses from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel in the shoot-out ended Arsenal's hopes, leaving Mikel Arteta and his players to collect runners-up medals beside a trophy the club has still never won.

Arsenal arrive at that disappointment after winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, a sign under Arteta that they have re-established themselves among Europe's top teams. But the final against back-to-back European champions PSG also underlined gaps that remain between the two sides.

Arteta said Arsenal must raise their level quickly and intelligently if they are to turn near-misses into success in Europe after a fifth straight defeat in a European final.

"We want to reach another level and we're going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it's going to demand to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart"

Arsenal's title celebrations in London on Sunday are still expected to be festive, but they come with the sense of an opportunity missed. Arteta also pointed to the quality in PSG's attack, suggesting the difference between the teams was especially clear in the final third.

"What they are able to do with the ball, with individual actions, I haven't seen it"

The Arsenal manager also said several of his players were not in the right condition after a demanding season in which he often depended on a relatively small group. Although Arsenal recruited Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke among others last year, all four began the final on the bench.

Across Arteta's six-and-a-half years in charge, Arsenal have largely operated with limited spending while developing younger players such as Buyako Saka. Kai Havertz started in attack and scored, repeating a feat from an earlier Champions League final in his career, but Arsenal may still need stronger options alongside the England international winger.

Need for tactical adjustment

Arsenal have been extremely solid defensively this season, going unbeaten throughout the competition until the final and conceding only seven goals, including Ousmane Dembele's penalty that took the match to extra time. Yet they had just 25 percent possession against PSG and managed only one shot on target across 120 minutes.

That has fed a broader view that Arsenal need not only personnel upgrades but also an adjustment in approach. Their current style may be enough to win the Champions League on occasion, especially given how close they came, but does not make success likely.

PSG midfielder Joao Neves gave a blunt assessment of the contest in comments to M6.

"PSG was the only one who wanted to play"

Arsenal also benefited from a more favourable route to the final, facing Atletico Madrid and Sporting Lisbon, while PSG came through a tougher side of the draw. Future opponents are likely to adapt better to Arsenal's strength from set-pieces and copy aspects of their tactical setup.

PSG midfielder Vitinha, despite his side's triumph, also said football changes quickly and that even Europe's champions cannot stand still.

"Maybe it will not last a lot of time, football is like this - 'today it's true, tomorrow it's a lie', but today we can say we are the best in Europe"

Arteta, who also complained about refereeing decisions in the final, nevertheless said Arsenal must concentrate on raising their own standards rather than relying on those complaints.

"We need to do better, we'll have to improve and find different margins to get the outcome that we want"

Arsenal do not require sweeping changes, but rather a measured correction that makes them more dangerous from open play while preserving the defensive resilience that carried them close to the title.