Following a gut-wrenching Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has urged manager Mikel Arteta to consider reinforcing the squad with at least two key signings. The Gunners, who were chasing their maiden Champions League title, ultimately fell short in a dramatic penalty shootout against the French champions.
The match, which concluded 1-1 after extra time, saw Arsenal take an early lead through Kai Havertz. However, PSG managed to equalise from the penalty spot in the second half via Ousmane Dembele. The tension escalated as the final went to penalties, with PSG ultimately prevailing 4-3 to retain their continental crown. Arsenal’s hopes were dashed when Eberechi Eze became the first to miss from the spot, followed by Gabriel, who blasted his effort over the crossbar with what proved to be the decisive kick.
Despite the heartbreak, Arsenal are set to shift their focus immediately to celebrating a significant achievement: their first Premier League title since 2004. A trophy parade is scheduled to take place in north London, offering fans a chance to acknowledge the team’s success. Manager Mikel Arteta has indicated he will take some time to reflect with his family before turning his attention to next season and the crucial upcoming transfer window.
Key Areas for Reinforcement
The club is expected to provide substantial backing for Arteta in the transfer market, and Keown believes a new striker should be a top priority. While Kai Havertz scored in the final, his season has been hampered by fitness concerns, limiting him to just seven league starts. Meanwhile, £64 million summer acquisition Viktor Gyökeres has experienced a mixed debut season at the Emirates Stadium and was notably absent from the starting lineup for the club’s most important fixture of the campaign.
Keown’s Analysis and Recommendations
When questioned about potential areas for strengthening this summer, Keown, speaking on TNT Sports, highlighted the need to reassess the striking options. “They may look again at the striker,” he stated. “Kai Havertz played 90 minutes tonight, but it’s only the second full game he’s finished in 18 months. With Viktor Gyökeres, 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.”
Gerrard’s Perspective on Squad Depth
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard echoed these sentiments, emphasising the importance of squad depth for a team competing on multiple fronts. “I think they have to,” Gerrard commented. “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.”
Gerrard continued, “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. But they’re not far away from being a dominant team; I just think they need a few more game-changers at the top of the pitch.”
Support for Penalty Misses
Amidst the disappointment, midfielder Declan Rice offered a message of solidarity to Gabriel and Eze for their crucial penalty misses in the shootout. “To miss a penalty in a Champions League final, obviously it’s not nice,” the England international said on TNT Sports. “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.”
Rice added, “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.”
Arteta and his Arsenal squad are now preparing to celebrate their Premier League triumph with their supporters in north London on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in the club’s history.
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