For Arsenal, Champions League final heartbreak can be built upon

PSG are back-to-back Champions League winners after beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties in what was a mental and physical battle in Budapest. 

Arsenal took the lead early on through striker Kai Havertz, and until PSG equalised from the penalty spot through Ousmane Dembele in the second half, Mikel Arteta appeared to have implemented a perfect tactical plan with a defence showing impressive discipline. 

While PSG had their chances, Arsenal remained compact, and managed to keep the French side at bay before forcing the match to penalties. 

Unfortunately for the Gunners, it was centre back Gabriel, whose performance was a standout, who suffered the most brutal of feelings in football, and that is missing the penalty which results in the trophy slipping out of his team's grasp.

Arsenal striker gamble and confident high line frustrates PSG

Arsenal set the tone straight from kick off, using their physicality to catch PSG off guard with a route one ball deep into the French side’s half causing panic and disruption.

The Gunners’ high line was a sign of confidence and showed that they were not afraid to put the pressure on PSG.

Arsenal’s players hunted in packs of two or three whenever a PSG player had the ball, the defending champions would not be able to implement the free-flowing football which has seen them gain so many plaudits over the past two season.

Whoever scored first would have major implications for how this match will play out, and Arteta’s gamble to start Havertz instead of Viktor Gyokeres paid off.

Latching on to a botched Marquinhos clearance which came off Leandro Trossard, Havertz charged down the left wing, and fired the ball past Matvei Safonov in the sixth minute, an impressive finish from the German who more or less sealed the Premier League title two weeks earlier with his goal against Burnley.

For PSG, this was the worst possible start.

Arsenal are masters of taking the lead and then setting up an impenetrable defensive block.

Centre back Gabriel was the master of time. He made a crucial tackle in his own box to steal the ball from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s feet in the 11th, and he repeated the same feat 20 minutes later, this time Desire Doue falling victim to the Brazilian.

There was controversy courtesy of Bukayo Saka, who appeared to have the ball hit both hands after a poor PSG delivery from a corner, but this was the least of the French club’s problems who struggled against an Arsenal defence which saw any attacking flare extinguished.

PSG second half improvement finds success against mentally taxed Arsenal 

If Arsenal were to maintain this stubborn defensive display it would require immense concentration, but PSG had more impetus at the start of the second half.

The referee sent a message in response to Arsenal’s attempts to delay the game, fullback Cristhian Mosquera was shown a yellow card shortly after the restart for delaying a throw-in.

With Mosquera in the book, Kvaratskhelia came into this own on right wing. He found himself increasingly on the ball, and was finding himself frequently in Arsenal’s box, but to no avail.

The Georgian finally drew a mistake from a tiring Gunners defence with Mosquera conceding a penalty as Kvaratskhelia ventured into the boxing. Dembele calmly slotted the spot kick away, and with 25 minutes remaining, PSG were on the up.

Mistakes were becoming more frequent from Arsenal, and with PSG experiencing a sense of impetus, Arteta looked to freshen up the energy level with Timber being swapped for Mosquera.

Kvaratskhelia continued to cause problems, and left William Saliba in no man’s land with afterburners in full effect before his shot was deflected on to the post.

As both teams made their substitutions, it was going to be a question as to whether Arsenal can keep up being defensively compact, whilst also mounting attacks of their own which were too far and between.

PSG substitute Bradley Barcola found himself bearing down on David Raya’s goal with six minutes left, but the Spanish shot stopper was fast of his line and took the ball away from the attacker’s feet. Once again Raya found himself involved in a pivotal moment during a high stakes match.

This final could have been put to bed as the clock ticked past sixth minute of added as Barcola charged down Arsenal’s right, similar to the build-up to Havertz’s goal, but unlike the German, Barcola fired over the bar, and the Gunners were given a lifeline after a mentally taxing second half.

Gabriel penalty miss secures Champions League glory for PSG

Extra time offered very little, as is often the case with neither team playing with the same freedom with tiredness but also reluctance to make a mistake playing a part.

There was an Arsenal penalty shout in 100th minute after Noni Madueke was brought down by Nuno Mendes, and then the Gunners almost snatched the win in the final seconds.

Striker Viktor Gyokeres had his shot deflected wide, and penalty kicks followed.

It’s been no secret Arsenal fans are put through the mental ringer when being close to a trophy, and going to penalties in a European Cup final seemed apt.

Gonzalo Ramos and Viktor Gykores made it one apiece, before PSG’s Doue put his side one goal ahead.

Another twist in the tale came from Eberechi Eze who fired his effort wide after a stuttered run-up, but then Mendes missed his spot kick for PSG. Spare a thought for those Arsenal fans who were strapped into the emotional rollercoaster football provides.

Declan Rice, Hakimi, Gabriel Martinelli, Lucas Beraldo all put their penalties away with PSG leading 4-3. Now it was Gabriel’s turn after putting in a stunning performance for Arsenal, but for him, it was too much.

He stopped every PSG attack which came his way, however, his penalty was fired over Stefinov’s bar, and the French giants retained the Champions League.

Arsenal will return to European football's biggest match

As the Arsenal players were consoled by club staff, this defeat will be raw, and may take some time to come to terms with despite there being a parade on Monday to celebrate their Premier League triumph. 

However, there is reason to be excited for the future. 

Any doubts about their mentality in the biggest moments have been silenced after winning English football's biggest prize, and for the majority of Saturday's match against PSG, the players remained in disciplined with their shape as it frustrated PSG who had to resort to taking off some of their biggest attacking threats. 

Some of PSG's players even had battle scars, including superstar Kvaratskhelia whose shin was red raw when he came off.

The Arsenal board have made no secret in the build-up to this final that they will want to continue building the club into an all conquering footballing force, and after watching this performance, the future is bright in north London.