Arsenal had been hoping for a double celebration by following up their league success with a first Champions League trophy in the club’s 140-year history
10:39, 01 Jun 2026
Gary Lineker
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Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker has become the latest person from the world of football to criticise Arsenal's defensive tactics in losing the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain. The Gunners fell short in their bid to win the Champions League for the first time as they were beaten on penalties by holders PSG in Budapest.
However, Mikel Arteta's side have come in for criticism for the way they played after taking an early lead through Kai Havertz. Luis Enrique's side had 17 shots to Arsenal’s seven, with an xG (expected goals) of 1.77 to 0.44, the Gunners only managed to make 285 attempted passes compared to PSG’s 889.
And Lineker believes PSG's win was a 'victory for positive football over negative football'. Kicking things off on the Rest is Football podcast, he said: "It was obviously disappointing for Arsenal [that] they missed out on penalties, and we'll come to that. I think overall, probably - well, I think definitely - the best team have won the tournament again."
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Before the former Match of the Day host added: "[Arsenal] do defend very well. Looking at the game as a fan, with no skin in the game other than that I do genuinely like to see the Premier League teams win, and I think that would have been great. We've obviously won the other two European competitions.
"I would say that Arsenal had to play that way. I don't think that they probably could have beaten them if they'd played expansive football - entertaining football. But at the same time, I would say that probably football won, though.
"I know that there are different ways to play football, and you can play defensively, but ultimately football is a sport, it's an entertainment, and we want to see teams that are really positive, really creative, have the best players and play wonderful football. And I think this season, those three teams in Bayern Munich, PSG and Barcelona, I think our sides have struggled a bit in terms of that side of the game.
"And Arsenal are brilliant defensively. If they'd have held on and not given away that penalty, PSG didn't create much because Arsenal are so well organised in the structure and the manner of play like you said, I just think as a complete neutral, I would say it's a victory for positive football over negative football.
"I saw similarities between Arsenal's final appearance to England against Italy in the Euros at Wembley, I saw similarities of when England played Croatia in the semi-final in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. So I saw similarities there where you score early and think 'oooff'.
"They probably would have played the same way anyway, but I think the fact that they did get that early goal and you've got something to hold onto made them even more determined to play in a defensive manner.
Gabriel of Arsenal reacts after he misses the team's fifth penalty as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates victory in the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Puskas Arena on May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary
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Gabriel Magalhaes missed the vital spot-kick(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
"But as a forward, as someone who likes 'the beautiful game', I just love to see attacking football, and I think in terms of the way the sport should be played, the best team won."
Lineker’s comments come after PSG star Joao Neves insisted his side were the 'only team that wanted to play'. He said: "The emotion is there. It's the second time I've been a European champion. It's not even the victory itself that pleases me, but playing with such teammates, this staff, and this management.
"Coming here was the best decision I've ever made. I love everything here. We deserved it today, because PSG were the only team that wanted to play."
He added: "This year was different. It was harder, more physical. We were European champions, so we defended our title. We're part of PSG history. We're all happy. I want to enjoy this with my teammates now."
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While Sir Alex Ferguson also had a dig at Arsenal, in a text message to PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, he said: "You were the team that played football."
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