Arsenal came within a penalty shootout of completing one of the most remarkable doubles in English football history.
A Premier League title lifted at Selhurst Park, followed six days later by a Champions League final in Budapest. It was the stuff that dreams are made of, and for at least an hour, it looked entirely possible. Kai Havertz's early opener had the red half of Budapest daring to believe, before Ousmane Dembele's equaliser from the penalty spot drew matters level midway through the second half.
It was from the same place that Arsenal suffered their ultimate heartbreak, where misses from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel ultimately ended their hopes of the double.
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Mikel Arteta's approach to the final made many think whether it was the right way to set up for a Champions League final, and one of the most decorated players in English football history has waded his way into the conversation, with his verdict certain to divide opinion.
gary lineker
Gary Lineker, speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, was generous in his praise of Arsenal's achievement in reaching the final, but pulled no punches when it came to assessing what the outcome meant for the game as a whole.
In his view, PSG's victory wasn’t just a win for the French club, it was a win for football itself: "Looking at the game as a fan with no skin in the game, I think Arsenal had to play that way because they wouldn’t have beaten PSG any other way, but at the same time I think football won."
Lineker was careful to acknowledge the legitimacy of defensive football, but made clear where his sympathies as a neutral lie:
"I know there are all different sort of ways to play and there’s nothing wrong with playing defensively. But at the same time football is entertainment and you want to see teams that are really positive, creative and have the best players and play wonderful football."
He identified three teams as having reached that level in Europe this season, and Arsenal weren’t among them: "I think this season those three teams have been PSG, Bayern Munich and Barcelona."
It’s a view that won’t sit well with Arsenal supporters, and many will argue that reaching a Champions League final without losing a single match in the competition until the penalty shootout is itself a mark of footballing excellence.
Mikel Arteta Vows Arsenal Will Learn From Champions League Pain
Mikel Arteta
For his part, Arteta was in no mood to engage with the tactical debate in the immediate aftermath of the final. The Arsenal manager cut a devastated figure in Budapest and chose instead to focus on the raw emotion of the occasion and what it means for the club going forward.
"It is very tough to accept when you are so consistent in the competition all the way to the final and in the end you lose the trophy on penalty kicks."
“We haven’t done it for 22 years [reached the Champions League final], so imagine the second time in our history that we have done it, and we need to recognise the season we had. But at the moment nobody is going to take the pain away from you. You have to go through the emotions and if you’re in pain, then go through the pain. If you think you could do something else, then learn from it. Reflect on that and show the ambition that we want to have again."
On PSG, Arteta was noble in defeat: "They are a superb team and I congratulate them. Individual quality they have, the manner they are coached – they are a top, top team."
Arteta and his squad joined an estimated 1.5 million supporters on the streets of north London for the Premier League title parade, a reminder that for all the heartbreak of Budapest, this is still the most successful season Arsenal have enjoyed in a generation.