Chelsea have taken a cheeky swipe at their fierce London rivals Arsenal following the Gunners’ agonising Champions League final defeat. The West London outfit reminded everyone of their European pedigree and slyly advertised their trophy tour at Stamford Bridge, trophies that the Gunners have been unable to win.
Mikel Arteta’s side were left heartbroken at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna on Saturday as they lost 4-3 on penalties to holders Paris Saint-Germain following a tense 1-1 draw. Arsenal took an early lead through Kai Havertz’s sixth-minute goal, but Ousmane Dembélé converted a penalty for Barcelona before Gabriel Magalhães fired the decisive spot-kick over the crossbar.
After the game, Chelsea posted on all their social media accounts:
“Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now.”
The post’s timing left little doubt who Chelsea were aiming the jibe at on a painful night. The Champions League trophy that had slipped through Arsenal’s grasp in Hungary was there in the accompanying pictures.
It was all the more stinging because Chelsea remain the only big London club to have lifted the famous trophy. The Blues won in 2012 against Bayern Munich and won it again in 2021, while Arsenal left their first final empty-handed.
The Gunners have to pick themselves up now and take this disappointment into their next continental campaign.
Paris Saint-Germain Retain Their European Crown With Penalty Win Over Arsenal
Paris Saint-Germain made history in Budapest, becoming the first team to defend the Champions League since the re-branding of the competition. Luis Enrique’s rampant side were in control throughout, enjoying around three-quarters of the possession in a gruelling 120 minutes.
And the shoot-out itself provided cruel drama for the Premier League champions watching anxiously from the centre circle. Eberechi Eze missed his stutter-stepped effort before Gabriel sent his attempt sailing high over the bar to gift Paris glory.
The result puts PSG among the modern giants of the European game. Arsenal, meanwhile, will look back on a magnificent run that ended in familiar continental anguish for their long-suffering supporters.