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Arsenal's remarkable season ended in agony on Saturday, as they were eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final following a tense penalty shootout, leaving head coach Mikel Arteta completely crestfallen.
The Gunners had recently lifted their first Premier League title in 22 years, claiming domestic success before setting their sights on European glory — a challenging but achievable goal after going undefeated all the way to the Champions League final. They came agonizingly close to a historic European double, taking the lead in the title match before back-to-back Champions League winners PSG fought their way back, stretching the game to 120 minutes before claiming a 4–3 victory in the shootout.
"It's very hard to accept when you've been so dominant throughout the competition right up to the final, and in the end, you lose the trophy on penalties," Arteta told TNT Sports after the game. "Yeah, it's a tough one to swallow."
"We won a big one, and we fell short on the biggest one," Arteta added, referencing the Premier League triumph but Champions League heartbreak. "... We need to appreciate the season we had, but right now, nothing is going to take that pain away."
A Game Decided at the Spot
After Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was brought down in the penalty area by Cristhian Mosquera, PSG star Ousmane Dembélé stepped up to convert the resulting spot kick and level the match in the 65th minute. However, when PSG defender Nuno Mendes hauled down Noni Madueke in the box 40 minutes later, the referee's decision not to award Arsenal a penalty ultimately forced the decisive shootout.
Referee Daniel Siebert chose not to point to the spot for Arsenal, a call that may have determined the Gunners' fate.
"I watched it back," Arteta said following the match. "It could very easily be a penalty, especially given the penalties that have been awarded throughout this competition this season.
"The referee made that call and went a different way compared to the Mosquera penalty, and yeah, that's a significant one."
Arteta Sends Heartwarming Message to Squad
"I am incredibly proud of them," Arteta said of his players in spite of the defeat. "The season we've had given the circumstances — internally, we know everything we've been through. They have brought us so much joy. It's truly a privilege to be the manager of this group of players, this club, and to see how much they care about this badge and how much they give."
Arteta urged his players not to suppress their emotions too quickly, but rather to allow themselves to fully feel the sadness, disappointment, and heartbreak.
"You have to go through the motions," he said. "If you're hurting, sit with that pain. If you feel you could have done something differently, learn from it. That's all. Reflect on it, and then channel that ambition again."
Declan Rice With Emotional Reaction
Declan Rice was equally full of pride, despite the heartbreak. He converted Arsenal's third penalty in the shootout, but misses from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel proved too costly to recover from.
"It's gutting," Arsenal's influential midfielder told TNT Sports. "It's devastating to lose a Champions League final on penalties. I try to take a lot of perspective from how far we've come as a group. What an incredible season. Our 63rd game across all competitions tonight, and we pushed them all the way to penalties.
"It's a lottery. That's football. You can lose on penalties or win on penalties. Some of the greatest teams in history have been knocked out on penalties in finals ... We win as one, we lose as one. I am so proud of this group, these lads. What a season. I can't speak highly enough of everyone. Obviously I'm gutted, but I'm just trying to gain some perspective on where we were last July compared to where we stand now.
"It's been an incredible journey this season, and we will be back."