Arsenal Told to Upgrade Attack After Champions League Final Defeat to Paris Saint-Germain
Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain has already triggered discussions about potential summer reinforcements, despite Mikel Arteta guiding the club to the Premier League title.
Martin Keown urges Arsenal to strengthen attack after Champions League final loss to PSG despite Premier League triumph.
The Gunners suffered a painful 4-3 penalty shootout loss to PSG at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, and former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes the result highlighted areas where the squad still needs improvement if they are to compete consistently at Europe’s highest level.
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Keown identifies key positions for improvement
Speaking on TNT Sports after the final, Keown suggested Arsenal may still need to strengthen in the striker department and possibly on the left wing.
“They may look again at the striker. Kai Havertz played 90 minutes tonight but it’s only the second full game he’s finished in 18 months. With Viktor Gyokeres, it was a difficult night for him, so that could be an area Arsenal look at. Maybe left-wing as well. Mikel Arteta will strengthen, there’s no doubt about that,” he explained.
Keown acknowledged Arsenal’s impressive domestic campaign, which ended the club’s 22-year wait for a league title, but stressed that further additions are necessary to bridge the gap to Europe’s elite sides.
Difficult debut season for Gyokeres
The spotlight has intensified on Viktor Gyokeres following the defeat. The Sweden international joined Arsenal in a £64m move last summer but has experienced an inconsistent first season at the Emirates Stadium.
His omission from the starting lineup in the Champions League final has fuelled further debate about his standing within the squad, especially in major matches. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz scored in Budapest despite continuing fitness concerns that have limited him to only seven Premier League starts this season.
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard also backed the idea that Arsenal need more attacking depth to handle the demands of a long season.
“I think they have to,” Gerrard said. “This was Arsenal’s 63rd game of the season. You need more than one top striker, you might even need more than two. You need to keep refreshing, you fix the roof when the sun’s shining. Arsenal are in a magnificent place, a magnificent place. But the level and the amount of games means you have to keep adding to it and moving players on who have hit their ceiling or look like they’re in decline.”
Arteta calls for ambition in transfer market
Arteta himself hinted at major decisions ahead during the summer transfer window. After watching his side struggle for possession against PSG, the Arsenal manager admitted improvements are needed if the club wants to reach another level.
“We [will] start to make some very important decisions if we want to reach another level,” Arteta told reporters. “And we're going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it's going to demand to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart.”
The Spaniard also acknowledged PSG’s current status as the best team in the world after Arsenal managed only 24.7% possession during the final.
Rice backs teammates after penalty heartbreak
The defeat became even more painful after Eberechi Eze and Gabriel missed penalties in the shootout. However, Declan Rice quickly defended both players and praised their importance throughout the campaign.
“To miss a penalty in a Champions League final, obviously it’s not nice,” Rice said. “But we love them and we’re with them. It happens in football. They’re not going to be the last players to miss penalties in finals. Everyone has missed a penalty and without those two this season we wouldn’t have won the Premier League, that’s for sure. Gabriel, I’ve run out of words for him as a person and as a player. Eze has scored some crucial goals for us this season. It happens. It’s football and it’s cruel. We take the positives and keep going.”
