Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, end another season empty-handed following their Champions League elimination at the hands of PSG — so where does the club go from here?
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Arsenal's Champions League run ended at the semi-final stage, falling 3-1 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain. After a narrow 1-0 defeat in the first leg, Mikel Arteta's side had chances to overturn the tie in Paris but lacked precision in both penalty areas. For a fifth straight season, the Gunners finish empty-handed.
When Arteta signed his new contract last September, his goal was clear: “To win.” He outlined a five-step vision, with the final aim to build a trophy-winning dynasty. Yet since lifting the FA Cup in 2020, silverware has eluded him.
Arsenal’s exit stings not only for its timing but for its familiarity — they’ve now lost four consecutive semi-finals across competitions. Their performance at the Parc des Princes mirrored a season of near misses: dominant spells undermined by fine margins. Over two legs, Arsenal generated 4.8 expected goals but scored only once, while PSG’s first two strikes — both low-probability chances — proved decisive.
Injuries also disrupted momentum. Arsenal suffered a league-high 27 separate injuries, sidelining key players like Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Partey, and Jesus for extended stretches. Despite this, they remained competitive, reaching two semi-finals and contending domestically behind champions Liverpool.
Now, pivotal months await. Incoming sporting director Andrea Berta — famed for constructing Atlético Madrid’s title-winning squads — inherits a team close to glory but in need of sharper edges. A new centre-forward tops the summer wishlist, as Arsenal aim to convert dominance into decisive moments. Retaining core stars like Saka, Saliba, and Gabriel — all with contracts expiring in two years — is equally urgent.
Arteta’s project stands at a crossroads. With expectations rising and a possible transfer war chest at hand, Arsenal must turn promise into prizes — or risk being remembered as nearly men.