Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised his players for their fighting spirit throughout the season, despite falling short in the UEFA Champions League final after losing on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Budapest.
Arsenal came close to making history after taking an early lead through Kai Havertz, but PSG equalised in the second half via an Ousmane Dembélé penalty. The match was eventually decided by a penalty shootout, where PSG triumphed 4-3 to claim yet another European title.
After the match, Arteta admitted the pain of losing the final but expressed pride in the effort and progress shown by his squad throughout the campaign.
"I love my players so much. They gave everything," Arteta said after the match.
The Spanish coach urged his players to use the disappointment as motivation to come back stronger next season, insisting that Arsenal still have a strong chance of achieving their Champions League dream in the future.
Captain Martin Ødegaard and midfielder Declan Rice also supported their teammates, highlighting the significant progress the squad has made in recent years. Rice noted that reaching the final is proof that Arsenal are growing and capable of competing for major European trophies.
Despite missing out on the Champions League title, Arsenal enjoyed a successful season after winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 years under Arteta. This achievement has re-established the club among the elite teams in both England and Europe.
Arsenal reached the Champions League final for the first time since 2006 after defeating Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals. Throughout their campaign, they showed strong defensive organization and broke several club records in the competition.
Although they missed out on European glory, Arteta insisted that Arsenal’s journey of progress is far from over and that the club will continue improving in order to return stronger next season.
