After the Champions League final, Mikel Arteta was quick to congratulate PSG but also declare that Arsenal would need to do something big in order to topple the genuine elite of European football.
In back to back years now, the Gunners have tasted defeat to the French side but on this occasion, it stung more than most games in the club's history.
Arteta-Arsenal-Champions-League-final
Arsenal were so close from sporting immortality, from writing their names into the history books by winning club football's biggest prize. Alas, they will go again next season and potentially with an even better squad too.
Talking to the media at full-time, Arteta said: "We start to make some very important decisions if we want to reach another level. And we're going to have to show that ambition. We are more than capable of doing it, but it's going to demand us to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart."
So, how do you improve Premier League title winners? Well, Arsenal did not do it perfectly.
Arsenal could sign mega-money Premier League duo
Coming into this transfer window there are not too many glaring issues that Andrea Berta and Arteta need to fix. They have the best defence in Europe but their attack has misfired on several occasions over the last few seasons.
Arsenal-Leandro-Trossard
The left flank is a big priority for the Gunners with Leandro Trossard now aged 31 and Gabriel Martinelli only finding the net once in the Premier League all campaign long.
That explained links to Anthony Gordon before he joined Barcelona and it also explains links to PSG's Bradley Barcola. Any move to sign a PSG player, however, looks unlikely considering they are now back to back European champions.
As a result, they could turn their attentions to the Premier League and Morgan Rogers. Reports last week suggested that the club had already opened talks with the player's representatives, although no club to club discussions between Arsenal and Aston Villa have taken place yet.
The latest on that move comes from journalist Jamie Dickenson who counts experience at the Express and the Standard. He took to social media over the weekend to report that the north Londoners have already 'lined up' a mega £175m double deal not just for Rogers but also for Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi.
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers celebrates scoring their first goal
It's alleged that the Arsenal board, led by Josh Kroenke, are set to then invest a subsequent £125m on other new signings if they recoup £100m in player sales. Exciting times indeed.
How Kroupi and Rogers compare to Gyokeres and Eze
The Champions League final on Saturday night encapsulated Arsenal's season perfectly. They were dogged, determined and ultimately excellent at the back.
However, their forward play, as it so often has under Arteta's reign, looked devoid of much threat.
It must be said that Kai Havertz scored a cracker of a goal early on and everything looked rosy, but the game plan after that was never going to be to get at PSG. That said, when they did have opportunities to counter and break forward, more often than not, they lost the ball.
Havertz-Odegaard-Hincapie-Arsenal
Viktor Gyokeres did not start the game but when he came on, it summed up all of his weaknesses. The Swede had scored 21 times in his debut season at Arsenal and has rarely been found wanting in front of goal. However, his hold up play and ability to connect with his teammates has been a season-long issue.
That was the case again in Budapest. He lost the ball ten times from his 20 touches of the ball and was only able to register one shot, one that was deflected wide in the dying embers of extra-time.
In the shape of Kroupi, they would be signing an incredibly raw striker but one with all of the attributes to go to the top level. At the age of 19, he is a superstar in the making, if he isn't already, scoring 13 times in the league. That was the most goals a teenager has scored in their maiden Premier League season in history. Yeah, this kid is pretty special.
Capable of playing as the focal point of the attack or just behind the main centre-forward as something of a second striker, Kroupi already has Gyokeres beat as far as versatility and dynamism is concerned.
For those who may be worried by a lower number of goals. Well, the Cherries forward actually had a better conversion rate than Arsenal's number 14 this term.
Best conversion rates - Premier League 25/26
Player
1) Will Osula
2) Noah Okafor
3) Danny Welbeck
4) Nick Woltemade
5) Eli Junior Kroupi
6) Viktor Gyokeres
In the case of Rogers, it's easy to see why he would represent an upgrade on Eze. The way the Villa man stamps his authority on games and in big moments is seriously admirable. Truthfully, he looks like everything Eze was at Crystal Palace, just with more aggression, swagger and end product.
Last season, the attacking midfielder scored 14 goals and provided 16 assists. This term, he netted another 14 and helped himself to 12 assists. To put those numbers into context, his 56 goal involvements over that time frame are 15 more than Eze.
Morgan_Rogers_vs_Eberechi_Eze_radar (1)
Analysing their metrics from 2024/25 when Eze was starting games more regularly, there is not an awful lot between the two. They are very similar players. Yet, the finishing quality of Rogers (highlighted in turquoise above) is staggering.
£175m would be an awful lot to spend on those players but if Arsenal are to take their game to the next level and get over the line in the Champions League, that feels like the price you have to pay.
Arsenal-Rice-Saliba-Gabriel-Eze-Madueke-Martinelli-Champions-League-final Related
£64m Arsenal star needs to be replaced ASAP after the Champions League final
Arsenal suffered heartbreak in Budapest, losing the Champions League final to PSG.