Arsenal's Champions League final tactics draw fierce criticism after penalty defeat to PSG

Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to PSG on penalties in Budapest has sparked a wave of criticism directed at Mikel Arteta’s tactical approach, with former France international Christophe Dugarry labelling the Gunners’ performance “simply unbearable.”

The Gunners had taken the lead inside five minutes when Kai Havertz hammered home, but Arteta’s side then sat deep and invited pressure rather than pressing for a second. PSG equalised in the second half through an Ousmane Dembélé penalty before winning 4-3 in the shootout to become only the second side in the Champions League era to retain the trophy. Arsenal, who had entered the final as underdogs and as Premier League champions, finished with a single shot on target. PSG registered 21 attempts and held 75 percent of possession.

Dugarry, speaking on RMC Sport, was scathing in his assessment. “Arsenal will remain the greatest club to have never won the Champions League,” he said. “Their intentions were clear from the start of the match: absolutely nothing, zilch, they did nothing. At no point did they come onto the pitch to create anything. We saw clearances, an Arsenal team that systematically tried to waste time. It was simply unbearable, intolerable.”

The former World Cup winner went further, arguing the approach carried a broader danger for the sport. “What almost proved terrible for football and the people who love it is that they almost gave the illusion that by creating and doing so little, you can win the Champions League. Because it’s not just in this match that they created so little. It’s been the case for many matches now.”

Gary Lineker offered a similarly pointed verdict, framing the result as a win for attacking football. “As a complete neutral I would say it’s a victory for positive football over negative football,” Lineker said on his Rest is Football podcast. “Arsenal are brilliant defensively and PSG didn’t create much because they’re so organised, but I think as a neutral it was a positive result for football. I think in terms of how football should be played, the best team won.”

The defeat means Arsenal’s wait for a first European Cup continues, and the manner of the loss — rather than the result itself — looks set to dominate the post-final conversation around Arteta’s methods on the continental stage.