Arsenal suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League 2025-26 final on Saturday night in Budapest, but it was the Gunners’ tactics, not just the result, that dominated post-match analysis.
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Kai Havertz gave Arsenal a dream start with a goal in the sixth minute, but Ousmane Dembélé‘s second-half penalty levelled the score. The match moved into extra time and then penalties, where PSG emerged victorious to claim back-to-back Champions League titles.
Arteta’s Tactics Draw Sharp Criticism
Arsenal‘s defensive display produced an unwanted record: the lowest possession percentage in a Champions League final since records began in 2003-04, managing just 24.7% time on the ball. That broke their own previous record from the 2006 final loss against Barcelona, though in that match they were reduced to ten men for more than 70 minutes.
Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley was direct in his assessment on ESPN after the match.
“Let’s lay it out on the table, when they scored after six minutes, they tried to defend their way to the 90th minute. Had it been PSG who scored after six minutes, they would have carried on attacking and probing and trying to win the game. And that’s the contrast in how these two teams approach, not only the final, but approach football.”
“Arsenal regressed into trying to defend their way through 84 minutes plus injury time. That’s tough to do. A valiant effort from Arsenal, but in terms of a football game, PSG by far, even not at their best, were the better of these two sides.”
“Three times from a kick-off they’ve lobbed it forward like it was a game of rugby. That’s embarrassing. That’s 1980s football back in England. It really is.”
Nasri Points to Time-Wasting as Turning Point
Former Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri offered a different angle, suggesting that the Gunners’ time-wasting in the first half shaped the referee’s approach for the rest of the game.
“In the second period, the referee systematically whistled against Arsenal. He punished them for their time-wasting in the first half.” — Samir Nasri, Canal+’s Late Football Club
One of the most discussed moments came during extra time, when a potential foul against Arsenal in the penalty area was not referred to VAR. The decision triggered an angry reaction from Mikel Arteta, who collected a yellow card in protest.
Penalty Miss Hands PSG the Title
Arsenal‘s defence held for long stretches and forced the tie to a shootout, but Gabriel Magalhães missed his spot-kick in sudden death, handing PSG their second consecutive Champions League title. Arteta‘s side had leaned on defensive solidity throughout the season, a strategy that delivered a long-awaited Premier League title, yet on the biggest European stage it left them exposed to exactly this kind of verdict.
Follow TipsGG for continued coverage, match analysis, and betting tips as the fallout from the final develops.