Top News

Former Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri has hit out at the match officials, claiming that the Gunners were “punished” during their agonising Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The Frenchman suggested that the referee’s approach in the second half was a reaction to Arsenal’s earlier tactics and game management.

Referee 'punished' Arsenal for time-wasting

Following the dramatic final in Budapest, where Gabriel Magalhaes missed the decisive penalty that handed PSG the title after a 1-1 draw, Nasri made his feelings clear. Speaking on Canal+’s Late Football Club, the former France international alleged that the referee’s attitude shifted against Mikel Arteta’s side after the break.

“In the second half, the referee blew his whistle against Arsenal every time. He punished them for their time-wasting in the first half,” Nasri said. The Gunners had gone ahead early through Kai Havertz and spent much of the opening 45 minutes frustrating the defending champions with a compact defensive setup — a plan Nasri believes ultimately backfired when the officials lost patience.

The extra-time penalty incident

One of the most debated moments of the final came in extra time when substitute Noni Madueke went down inside the box under pressure from Nuno Mendes. While Arsenal players and supporters appealed passionately for a penalty, Nasri offered a more measured take on an incident that could have changed the outcome.

“If he had given a penalty, I don’t think VAR would have overturned it. But the fact that he didn’t blow the whistle isn’t a scandal either,” Nasri explained. Despite his criticism of the referee’s overall performance, he accepted that the Madueke incident belonged to a subjective “grey area” rather than being an obvious refereeing error.

Enrique’s tactical brilliance

Although Nasri criticised some officiating decisions, he was full of admiration for PSG’s strategy under Luis Enrique. He pointed out that the Spanish manager stayed calm despite Havertz’s early goal threatening to derail their push for back-to-back European glory.

“He never takes unnecessary risks. Since he discovered the right balance, everything is under control. He always has a plan to outsmart the opposing manager,” Nasri said about the PSG boss. He praised how the French champions regained their rhythm and equalised through an Ousmane Dembele penalty in the second half.

PSG achieve 'legendary' milestone

With this consecutive Champions League triumph, PSG have joined a select group of clubs in Europe’s elite circle. Nasri acknowledged the significance of the achievement, noting that no other French club — not even his former team Marseille — has matched such a feat.

Nasri wrapped up his analysis by underlining the historic importance of PSG’s success: “The first time is historic. The second is legendary.” While debates continue over the referee’s decisions and the missed penalty claim, the former Arsenal star recognised that PSG’s status as a European powerhouse is now beyond question.