'In the first 25 minutes we could have conceded three or four'published at 19:07 11 May
19:07 11 May
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after the 2-2 draw against Liverpool: "I'm very upset. We can draw and talk about reaction but I'm not into reaction, I am in action mode. What we did in the first 25 minutes was nowhere near the level.
"After PSG I accept we were the better team and deserved much more. It was unbelievable that we were not through to the final. But today in the first 25 minutes we could have conceded three or four. After that yes, but then we went down to ten men and still had three or four missing [with injury]. That Is what we have to demand from ourselves."
On his half time words: "That stays in the dressing room. Yes, there was a reaction but only after. If you want to win trophies and be better than anyone, with the standards that are set in this competition and the Champions League, you have to be active not reactive."
On Newcastle next week: "I have full trust in all my players and we have full clarity in what we want to do. It will be a tough game and we want to secure the Champions League and the second spot as well. It is a big opportunity."
On the importance of securing second: "If you cannot be the best, then you have to be the best of the rest. That is very important. Again, today we play with ten men, half of our team injured, and some of them playing when they should not, and still we performed in a way we have done for seven/eight months. That is what we have to demand from ourselves."
Did you know?published at 18:37 11 May
18:37 11 May
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Since 15th February, only Bruno Fernandes (15) has been involved in more goals in all competitions among Premier League players than Arsenal's Mikel Merino (11 – 7 goals, 4 assists).
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal - send us your thoughtspublished at 18:28 11 May
Sutton's predictions: Liverpool v Arsenalpublished at 10:41 11 May
10:41 11 May
Arsenal were really good against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, and I was impressed by how brave they were, but they still went out of the Champions League.
There will be Gunners fans out there who will think they should be winning more trophies than they have managed under Mikel Arteta, who has still not added to the FA Cup he lifted in his first season, 2019-20.
Arsenal are still heading in the right direction but the biggest problem for me has been their recruitment, especially for them to not sign a striker last summer. There are such fine margins between success and failure at the highest level, and you need someone to put away your chances in the biggest games.
They basically itted that by trying to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa in January and if anyone or anything is to blame for another trophyless season, then that's where it lies.
Now Arsenal need to refocus and make sure they don't let second place slip away.
This game obviously is not the title decider that some people may have anticipated earlier in the season, but I still feel both sides will be desperate to win it.
In of the game itself, I really don't know what to expect. Liverpool were way below their best against Chelsea last week, but Arne Slot could go strong here and they may feel they have a point to prove against their nearest rivals.
Similarly, Arsenal could be flat after their disappointment in Paris, or they could come out firing. Hopefully that's the case, and both teams will be up for it.
Arsenal also want to secure Saliba's defensive partner Gabriel Magalhaes to a new contract and he also has two years remaining on his deal.
Saliba has been linked with Real Madrid in recent weeks but said in March that his contract situation was not something he was thinking about.
"I'm really happy here," he said. "I've been here for two years and a half as well. There is nothing. I'm happy here and I want to continue here."
At that time Saliba said that there was "no rush" to sign a new deal and that he wanted to win "big things" with Arsenal.
When speaking before Arsenal's game against PSV, he said: "If you leave this club without winning anything, the fans will forget about you. I want to win big things here."
Did you know? published at 16:42 9 May
16:42 9 May
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Arsenal's game with Liverpool on Sunday will be the third time the Gunners have faced the Premier League champions in a season with the title already confirmed, previously drawing 1-1 with Manchester United in 2012-13 and beating Liverpool 2-1 in 2019-2020.
The numbers that point to Gyokerespublished at 16:40 9 May
16:40 9 May
Joe Bradshaw BBC Sport Senior Journalist
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On Thursday, our senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel outlined three potential summer targets to plug the hole up front for Arsenal.
Sporting's Viktor Gyokeres, Newcastle's Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig would all come with strong credentials, intriguing skillsets - and high price tags.
But what can this season's data tell us about the trio?
We took a look.
As the above graph shows, on pure numbers, 27-year-old Gyokeres leads the list.
He has played more minutes than the other two across domestic and European competition, but when whittled down to his metrics per 90, he is comfortably the highest performing.
Most shots on target, most chances created for others and highest goal contributions.
No wonder European scouts have been flocking to Sporting fixtures this season.
Arguably he is playing in the weakest league of the three, but he has still cleaned up, scoring 44 goals in 2024-25, including a hat-trick against Manchester City in the autumn.
A criticism levelled at Arsenal during the Champions League semi-finals was a lack of ruthlessness - perhaps unfair given Gianluigi Donnarumma's excellence for Paris St-Germain, but nevertheless an issue that has dogged them this season.
In Gyokeres, Arsenal would get one of Europe's most lethal marksmen. Not only has he bagged 44 goals, his shot conversion rate of 28.4% is similar to that of Erling Haaland (29.2%) in his record-breaking 2022-23 season.
Meanwhile, Arsenal fans need no reminding of Isak's predatory instincts after his exploits against them in the Carabao Cup semi-finals earlier this year.
Since his arrival at St James' Park three seasons ago, he has consistently been among the most clinical in the Premier League.
Only Chris Wood's barely believable 32% conversion rate for Nottingham Forest edges out Isak's 25% from top spot in this year's striker rates.
As for Sesko, his 20.2% conversion rate does not leap off the page, albeit it is better than Kai Havertz has managed in either of his two seasons at Emirates Stadium.
Of the players to score more than five Premier League goals for Arsenal this season, Mikel Merino has the highest conversion rate of 18.8% - 10% lower than Gyokeres.
One season is a small sample size and this is only a tiny hint at the data Arsenal's recruitment team will be poring over in readiness for the summer transfer window.
Whichever direction Arsenal take will cost a huge amount of money - and it feels like they cannot afford to get it wrong.
Arteta on PSG, trophies and guard of honourpublished at 15:32 9 May
15:32 9 May
Alex Fletcher BBC Sport journalist
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Liverpool (kick-off 16:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Arteta called Wednesday's loss to Paris St-Germain: "One of the saddest but also one of the proudest moments that I have had as a manager."
He added that he "100%" believed Arsenal were the better team in the game, but conceded it "doesn't matter [as they] couldn't make it count".
On whether his side have taken a step forwards: "For sure in the Champions League we have because we have done better than last season, but not what we want because we want to win it. In the Premier League we have taken a step backwards, the points that we have created it is clear that we haven't done as good as last season - that is obvious."
On winning major trophies: "This is where we are, when we come close to winning big trophies and don't achieve it, this has to be part of the journey to get up and go again in different competitions and perform at the highest level."
On giving Liverpool a guard of honour: "They deserve it. They have been the better team and what Arne (Slot) and the coaching staff have done has been fascinating. [They have been] the most consistent team this season and when someone's better you have to applaud."
Arteta was asked if giving a guard of honour will inspire his players for next season: "Something has to drive and motivate you, that is part of sport. Sometimes pain can be a good way of doing this."
'Arteta has been let down' - Dennispublished at 14:46 9 May
14:46 9 May
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Ian Dennis believes Mikel Arteta has been "let down" by the club's hierarchy.
Arsenal have had issues with finding a suitable striker this season and Dennis believes this contributed to their Champions League exit against Paris St-Germain.
Speaking on The Commentators' View podcast he said:
"There is a narrative now about Mikel Arteta and how far he's taken Arsenal and have they progressed or regressed, but I can't help but feeling he's been let down by the hierarchy.
"They've needed a centre-forward for so long and yet they never addressed it last summer. For all the money that they have spent, they never addressed one of their key and vulnerable areas."
Fellow BBC commentator John Murray added:
"Who [would have] thought that Arsenal would reach the Champions League semi-finals? Not many.
"I think he [Arteta] can say he's reached a Champions League semi-final and [in the past] reached a Europa League semi-final. But clearly they've got to take that next step. They need that goalscorer."
Asked about needing to strengthen his squad to win trophies, Mikel Arteta said:
"We are already there. With the amount of points in the past few seasons, we could have two Premier Leagues – we are providing the numbers that give you titles.
"There are many factors that you need to go your way but these are all fine margins. [Next season] we have to amplify the margins."
'I can understand his point of view'published at 12:04 9 May
12:04 9 May
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"Nobody has rattled PSG like Arsenal did", but the Ligue 1 champions still "deserved to win", says French football expert Julien Laurens.
Despite having more possession, shots and a higher xG than Paris St-Germain, the Gunners still succumbed to a 3-1 aggregate defeat in the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta suggested that the better side had lost.
Laurens told the BBC Radio 5 Live Euro Leagues podcast: "He [Arteta] has to be positive. I can understand his point of view, his communication to pick up the players because they have a big game on Sunday against Liverpool in the Premier League.
"If you look at the stats – and we are all a fan of stats – with expected goals, they won the xG battle home and away. Across the two legs they had a higher xG than PSG. They had 20 shots at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night - no team has left that stadium with 20 shots. Nobody has rattled PSG like Arsenal did for the first 20 minutes of the game on Wednesday night.
"Overall, I still think PSG deserved to win. It was fine margins, but there was no way PSG or Arsenal were going to walk this semi-final, as neither Barcelona or Inter Milan would, because the teams are too good and the stakes are too high – it is not that simple."
Guillem Balague added: "The argument I think [PSG boss] Luis Enrique was putting across is that his side were better in both boxes, which is something Arteta will it, but the stats proved the performance of Arsenal deserved more.
"Donnarumma was man of the match in both games. There is a good argument why Arteta said that but I think he was reading the room. He in his head could sense that it was another year without trophies, failure was coming to get them and he was just defending his side."
Were Arsenal actually the best team in the Champions League?published at 16:44 8 May
16:44 8 May
Katie Stafford BBC Sport journalist
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Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal were the best team in the Champions League this season, but is he right?
Reaching the semi-finals does suggest they are one of the better sides given 36 clubs were involved this year, but how do Arsenal compare against finalists Paris St-Germain and Inter Milan?
Inter are the most in-form team in the Champions League, losing only once to Bayer Leverkusen in December, and winning 10 of their games.
Arsenal won nine of their games before being knocked out on Wednesday but were one of nine teams that lost three matches across the campaign.
Perhaps surprisingly, PSG have lost the most of the three teams, being defeated five times during the league stage. Luis Enrique's side have, however, won 10 matches overall, a reflection of their dominance in knockout football.
Arsenal needing a number nine has been the ongoing talking point of the past two seasons and it has been further highlighted through the injuries of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
But in contrast to their Premier League record, the Gunners have had no issues putting the ball in the back of the net in Europe.
They scored 31 goals in the competition - more than their XG of 27.27 - and produced 84 shots on target, despite playing the latter stages of the competition with a makeshift centre-forward in Mikel Merino.
PSG have had 111 attempts on target converting 33 of those to goals, while Inter Milan ed 65 shots on target, scoring only 26 times.
Of the three teams, it is Arsenal's backline that gets the plaudits. The centre-back pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel has continued to shine, with Arsenal only shipping 10 goals throughout the whole competition.
Interestingly, four of those have come since the Brazilian was ruled out at the beginning of April for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury.
Even so, that defensive solidity means they have the best goal difference of anyone in the competition with 21, bettering PSG's 18 and Inter's 15.
Media caption,
No better team in competition than Arsenal - Arteta
Aside from the numbers, it is worth noting that Inter Milan have had a more favourable run of fixtures compared with Arsenal and PSG.
The Gunners saw off Sporting Lisbon and PSV Eindhoven convincingly, with the latter finishing 9-3 on aggregate.
They then dismantled 15-time champions Real Madrid 5-1 over two legs in the quarter-final with Declan Rice producing two world-class free-kicks that will be ed for decades to come. It is understandable why people had high hopes for the Gunners after that promising display.
But PSG also deserve their share of the flowers. It would not be unfair to say they started the competition poorly by taking 13 points from eight games in the league stage. But post-Christmas, Enrique's side found their feet.
They put 10 past Brest over two legs and eliminated Manchester City, favourites Liverpool and now Arsenal.
It cannot be said they have had an easy run to the final.
Arteta does have some evidence for his claim Arsenal have been the best team in the Champions League this season - but it is hard to argue against the two finalists being more deserving.
The ultimate answer will come on Saturday, 31 May - and Arsenal will not be there.
Inside Arsenal's summer striker planspublished at 15:07 8 May
15:07 8 May
Sami Mokbel Senior football correspondent
What comes next for Arsenal? Can they get to the next level? And which players are they looking at as they try to strengthen their squad?
Here, we take you through the club's plans as they stand - pulled together from multiple sources.
Unsurprisingly, a striker is top of their list of targets, with Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres all coveted.
Isak the dream target
Image source, Getty Images
It is no secret Arsenal want to spend a large portion of their summer budget on a new striker.
At the top of Arteta's wishlist is Newcastle frontman Isak, and a move for the Sweden international has almost universal backing from those behind the scenes at Emirates Stadium.
Well-placed sources have told BBC Sport that Isak would be open to a move to London, though he is likely to have other options - with Liverpool also interested.
All of his suitors are likely to run into the same obstacle: cost.
There is an acknowledgement at Arsenal that g Isak would wipe out the vast majority of their budget - and with other positions to strengthen, a deal for the 25-year-old may be unlikely.
Sesko a long-term option
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Arsenal have had Benjamin Sesko on their radar for a while now and the forward was close to ing the club last summer.
Arsenal enquired again in January, but the German club were adamant they had no intention of selling and the Gunners did not want to antagonise them before a potential negotiation this summer.
Slovenia international Sesko has scored 26 goals this season - already an improvement on the 23 he hit last year. At 21, he fits the ideal age profile for Arsenal in of financial and technical growth.
Gyokeres a realistic and favoured option
Image source, Getty Images
The appointment of Berta has resulted in Victor Gyokeres' stock rising, with sources in recent weeks indicating there is considerable internal backing for a move for the Swede, despite much of the groundwork having been completed on a deal for Sesko.
Like Sesko, Gyokeres has a release clause as well and the indications are their clubs are willing to negotiate lower fees.
At this stage, sources suggest Gyokeres, who has scored 38 league goals this season, is the most economical g of the two.
But prior to Berta's arrival there were concerns whether Gyokeres' form in Portugal would translate to top-level performances in the Premier League.
Similarly, the fact he will turn 27 before next season presents a financial dilemma given the likely outlay.
'Stay strong and learn from it' - Odegaardpublished at 13:45 8 May
13:45 8 May
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Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard believes the club must take lessons from their Champions League semi-final loss against Paris St-Germain.
The result ensured Arsenal will have gone five years without a trophy under Mikel Arteta but the Norway midfielder wants his team-mates to use this experience as an opportunity to improve for next season:
"It's very painful to be honest," said Odegaard. "We started the game really well, on the front foot, took control and created some big moments.
"But again, in the boxes, that's where the games are decided and we weren't good enough. That's where we have to be sharper and more clinical and also not concede the goals like we have done."
Odegaard has been at the club since 2021 but is yet to lift silverware. Wednesday marked the fourth straight semi-final that Arsenal have lost but the 26-year-old believes his team will recover.
"We wanted to go all the way and to bring trophies to this club and to our ers," he said. "We've had some tough moments during my time here and I feel like every time we've come back stronger. So that's the only thing you can do. We have to stick together."
'This team is growing and silverware will come' - Roundpublished at 13:38 8 May
13:38 8 May
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Former Arsenal assistant first-team coach Steve Round speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live on the Gunners' Champions League exit: "Over the two legs, although Arsenal played well, they didn't quite do enough to win the game. They were brilliant in the first 15 minutes - but they didn't convert the chances.
On whether Arsenal desperately need a number nine: "Yes and no. They have been unfortunate with injuries but the old adage of the striker only performs in the box is now gone. Most teams have centre-forwards who are good all over the pitch. Arsenal will be looking for a number nine who can help in the box, as well as on build-up and high press."
On Mikel Arteta needing to win silverware: "His focus and intensity to win is incredible - this won't have deterred him one bit. He will be incredibly disappointed not to go to the next step.
"But this team is in its infancy in the Champions League. Manchester City were in the competition for a long time before they won it. You grow, build, adapt and you get better. Arsenal definitely improved between the two legs in this game.
"Eighteen other teams in the Premier League would swap places with Arsenal right now. Unfortunately, they came up against an exceptional team in Liverpool, who had a brilliant season.
"The team is growing and the silverware will come. If you keep the nucleus of the team together and recruit well this summer, they can push forward and will be successful next year."
Arsenal's Champions League exit puts pressure on big summer published at 12:35 8 May
12:35 8 May
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
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After Arsenal's loss to Paris St-Germain, the immediate talk after the match was how it is now five years since the Gunners have lifted a trophy under Mikel Arteta.
It is not a given that any club should win trophies but Arsenal are excellent under Arteta and the progression he has made at the club means fans feel the next step is winning regular silverware.
Arteta has got Arsenal back into the Champions League and they are consistent title challengers in the Premier League.
However, the same criticism has been repeatedly given to Arteta's side and that is that they lack a cutting edge in the final third.
They have suffered injuries but there have been many games this season where Arsenal have dominated, had chances but not taken them and ultimately lost.
Arsenal finished this semi-final second leg with an expected goal ratio of 3.14. That reads like Arsenal were wasteful in front of goal which is not the whole story.
A huge part of the reason that Arsenal couldn't score was the excellent performances of Gianluigi Donnarumma across both ties, but there were also occasions where balls into the box were not attacked as Arsenal do not have a natural goalscorer in their squad.
The Gunners have been linked with Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak and all are liked internally but there is a huge summer ahead for Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta.
Isak would be hugely expensive, Newcastle will not want to sell their top scorer and a deal will be even harder to do if they qualify for the Champions League.
There is no doubt Arsenal must sign a striker this summer but the challenge will be navigating a market where everyone knows what they need.
Image source, Getty Images
