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·30 May 2026

Mikel Arteta admitted that Arsenal were experiencing deep “pain” after their Champions League dream ended in heartbreak, but stressed that the setback should serve as motivation for future success.

The Gunners came agonisingly close to claiming Europe’s most prestigious title before narrowly missing out, leaving Arteta to contemplate the fine margins that separated his side from glory.

“Pain, that’s it,” Arteta said after the match. “When you come so close in this competition and are just a few penalty kicks away from winning the biggest club tournament in football, that’s exactly how it feels.” Despite the disappointment, the Arsenal manager was quick to commend his squad and backroom staff for an outstanding campaign that saw them reach the final unbeaten.

“We’ve had an incredible run,” he remarked. “We didn’t lose a single game throughout the competition, but the truth is that when crucial moments arrived—particularly in the boxes—those fine margins didn’t go our way.”

Arteta highlighted several key incidents that could have changed the outcome in Arsenal’s favour, including penalty decisions and the decisive shootout itself.

He also referred to a second-half challenge on Noni Madueke that was not given as a penalty. “I’ve watched all the penalties awarded in this competition over the past 72 hours to understand what qualifies as one and what doesn’t,” he explained. “That could easily have been given as a penalty.”

Rather than dwell on what might have been, the Spaniard preferred to focus on the collective spirit and achievements of his team during the season. “What I told the players and staff is that even if I say thank you a million times, it won’t be enough,” he said.

“And it’s not just because we won the Premier League, or played in the cup final, or reached the Champions League final the way we did. It’s about the joy and the moments we’ve shared together every single day—and that’s above everything else.”

The final was ultimately decided by penalties, with Arsenal missing crucial spot-kicks. Arteta revealed that the team had thoroughly prepared for such a scenario. “We trained specifically for this moment,” he explained. “Normally, our penalty takers would be Bukayo, Martin, and Kai, and we knew that if the game went to extra time and penalties, other players might have to step up.”

“Even though in training they rarely miss, it’s a completely different situation in a final. Unfortunately, we lacked the same accuracy and composure that our opponents showed, and that’s why we didn’t win.”

Having guided Arsenal from European hopefuls to Champions League finalists, Arteta believes the pain of defeat must now fuel their continued growth. “First, you have to experience that pain, process it, and transform it into energy,” he said. “We must use it to improve and reach a higher level, because the quality across Europe demands that.”

Arteta also paid tribute to Paris Saint-Germain, describing them as the benchmark for his team’s ambitions. “I want to congratulate PSG, and Luis in particular, because in my view, they are the best team in the world,” he said. “What they can do with the ball, through individual brilliance, is something I haven’t seen before.”

Looking ahead, Arteta acknowledged that returning to another final would require even greater effort. “We’ll have to earn it,” he stated. “We need to replicate the same progress we’ve made over recent years, but the competition level rises every season.”

After a short break with his family, Arteta says the focus will quickly shift to preparing Arsenal for another strong campaign. “We’ll start making some very important decisions if we want to move up another level,” he said. “We have to show ambition, because we’re capable of doing it—but it will require being very ambitious, quick, and smart.”

For now, the dominant feeling remains one of heartbreak. Arsenal came painfully close to conquering Europe, and while Arteta takes pride in his team’s journey, the sting of defeat remains fresh.