UCL: ‘I still have that poison in my vein’ – Arteta on defeat to PSG
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta reflected on the lasting impact of last season’s UEFA Champions League final defeat, which he described as a “scar” that will remain with him indefinitely.
In the final held at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time. Arsenal took an early lead in the match with a goal from Kai Havertz in the sixth minute. However, the team subsequently adopted a defensive strategy, allowing PSG to control more than 70% of possession.
PSG equalized in the 65th minute with a penalty converted by Ousmane Dembélé. After a scoreless extra time, the match proceeded to penalties, where Arsenal players Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhães both missed their attempts. Gabriel’s shot sailed over the crossbar, solidifying PSG’s back-to-back Champions League titles under manager Luis Enrique.
This loss followed a week after Arsenal was crowned Premier League champions, marking a bittersweet culmination to their season. Arteta and his squad had maintained an unbeaten record in the Champions League, having gone 90 minutes without defeat across all 15 matches, trailing for only a total of just under 43 minutes throughout the tournament.
“I still have the scar, like Arsène [Wenger] says. I still have that poison in my veins,” Arteta remarked. He emphasized that the pain of the defeat will serve as a motivator for both himself and the team as they move forward.
