After the defeat in the Champions League final, coach Mikel Arteta had to face a familiar task: turning disappointment into motivation for Arsenal to continue to move forward.
When the whole team returned from Budapest to meet their families after the match, the atmosphere was filled with regret. Tears fell, because this was not simply a defeat. Arsenal was very close to their biggest dream - to become European champions.
But in the end, they were still not close enough to touch the cup. Arteta could not hide the pain after the defeat. However, like previous stumbles, he quickly talked about turning defeat into motivation.
Arsenal reacted strongly after only finishing fifth in the 2021-2022 season by becoming a Premier League championship candidate. They also surpassed three consecutive runners-up to finally reach the top of English football.
In the Champions League, the London team has also shown clear progress through each season: from the quarter-finals to the semi-finals and now the final. The question now is what will come next?
To truly conquer the first Champions League title in history, Arteta understands that Arsenal needs more than they currently have, especially in attack.
Arteta's post-match statements are not only spiritual encouragement. It is also a message to the club's leadership about the need to upgrade the force. Arteta praised PSG, the team he assesses as the strongest in the world today.
More importantly, he constantly emphasized that The Gunners need to reach a different level and find the factors that make the difference in big matches. The message is very clear - Arsenal needs more high-class attacking players. However, part of the responsibility also belongs to Arteta himself.
In the process of pursuing the title, the 44-year-old strategist is increasingly building a team that values control and safety. Arsenal is currently very different from the inspiring team in the 2022-2023 season. However, criticisms of the cautious playing style in the final also need to be seen fairly.
Not many teams in Europe can cause PSG to face difficulties like Arsenal did. Previously, Luis Enrique's team easily overcame a series of strong opponents with explosive attacking football.
In Budapest, Arsenal almost neutralized that strength for most of the match. PSG had to wait until a moment of mistake to create a turning point.
Arteta's tactical plan has generally been effective. The problem is that Arsenal does not have individuals who can make a difference like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia or Ousmane Dembele. That is the gap between the two teams.
After winning the Premier League title, Arsenal cannot continue to follow the old path if they want to reach the top of Europe.
An attack with names like Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli or Viktor Gyokeres may be enough to compete in the domestic league, but against top European teams, Arsenal still needs more stars capable of deciding the match.
For many years, Arsenal has always believed that a major title will help this team break to a new level. Now, after the defeat in the Champions League final, they need to prove that it is true. Because only by taking another step, Arsenal can complete the unfinished journey and touch the cup they desire most.
