A tired and incomplete squad almost took Arsenal to a Champions League final – now it’s time to strengthen

There are only so many times a promising squad can give everything of themselves throughout the slog of a season. The unrelenting schedule of prepare, play, recover, prepare, play, recover; the family sacrifices and time away; the psychological strain of being constantly and fiercely judged for every detail of your working output; the physical pain of injuries and rehab. Only so many times a squad can buy in, believe, and convince themselves they can lift silverware as reward for their efforts only to drop the prize and end up in tears.

That’s the general thinking anyway. Less than an hour after Arsenal’s road to Munich ended in Paris, in the bowels of the Parc des Princes Mikel Arteta fielded a number of loaded questions about the ramifications of another nearly attempt at landing an important trophy. The inference was that it might just become too much, that continuing to be hungry and motivated can become a problem, or that his players might remain forever trapped in the agonising cycle of running marathons only to slump before reaching the line.

Quick as a flash, Arteta summoned the image of one of the protagonists out on the pitch for PSG’s semi-final triumph over Arsenal. “Marquinhos, 11 times he’s tried in this club as a winner, 11 times he’s the captain, 11 times they have to go down and up. So look at somebody like this with that trajectory. You want to be in the sport and you want to be competing and be very close to all the trophies, you better be able to deal with that.”

The Marquinhos example resonated as Arsenal confronted their situation. Ask Marquinhos how he feels about the current PSG team. Ask him what he has witnessed in their evolution, the years of trying and faltering, their own tears. Listen to explanations about what has clicked this season, as they have found the synchronicity to become more than the sum of their parts for perhaps the first time in a decade of trying to ascend to the Champions League summit.

Arsenal’s squad arrived in Paris incomplete. That is unarguable. It has been obvious since they began to play a reconditioned midfielder, Mikel Merino, at centre forward almost three months ago and he is still at it. The difference between Arsenal and PSG over the two ties was a level of refinement in both boxes. Arsenal did not have the equivalent finesse and ferocious accuracy in front of goal. Ousmane Dembele, who set the tone for the tie with an early goal last week in London, is having the season of his life. His accomplices are doing great work in trying to match him.

Arteta tried to shift the emphasis by complimenting the immense performances of Gianluigi Donnarrumma who, not for the first time in this Champions League, roared and reacted and filled his goal like a supersized defender of his club’s honour. He crushed the idea of fine margins with his enormous hands. “To win a competition somebody has to do something special to win it for you and make it happen and that was the difference.”

Yes, Donnarumma’s performance was monstrous. But Arsenal must also re-examine whether they were ruthless enough and the honest answer is: not really.

Chances were created over both legs, and to their credit they started in Paris like men on a mission to make things right. They forced PSG onto the back foot with a pincer-like high press early on which yielded three presentable opportunities to change the dynamic in the opening salvo. Gabi Martinelli, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard were all close.

But it felt so symbolic of their season that while their chances wouldn’t fall just right, PSG exuded a deadliness around the box. They acted like assassins in transition, ever ready to pounce on a moment of hesitation. Fabian Ruiz stunned Arsenal with his sharp control and sizzling shot. Kvicha Kvaratskhelia was a menace and hit the post with typical panache. Achraf Hakimi curled in while he was being closed down from all angles like it was second nature. It might have been worse had Vitinha not dribbled in a weak penalty which David Raya saved.

Still those nearly chances for Arsenal came, and Bukayo Saka took one and squandered another late on as Arteta’s team tried to ensure that if they lacked efficiency they would not be found wanting for effort. Considering the same 13 or so players have been carrying the load for months without much rotation, that’s creditable.

What price more firepower? What price ruthlessness? What price match-winners, magic makers, killers in front of goal? That is one very obvious gap in their team development that cannot be put off for a moment longer. They didn’t take it seriously as a priority last summer, and they inexplicably blanked it in January.

Arsenal had chances — but only scored once past Donnarumma across the two legs (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

It left Arsenal competing against arguably the most complete opponent they have faced this season in a semi-final without a recognised striker, and with other attacking players who have not had their most prolific seasons.

Thomas Partey’s long throws became a feature — it was at once a little embarrassing to be prioritising such tactics in a game of this stature, but it was also understandable recognition of using the most practical tools at their disposal to try to do damage. “We have to arrive in the competition at this stage with the full squad, full available, in best condition. We haven’t got that,” Arteta conceded.

“It’s the first time for 95 per cent of these guys to play a semi-final. The fact is that we are out and if we want to improve and we want to win it, we can never look back at ‘If’. It is about what is taking us to unlock that door to get to a final and actually win it? That’s the way that we have to think.”

(Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

It is now up to Arteta, the owners and the hierarchy to give the squad more of the necessary tools to cause more serious havoc offensively next season.

Arsenal’s players might have wept that it is over, but they should also be glad that all this happened. They gave all they could in a fantastically strong semi-final grouping. This Champions League run has given them different experiences to the exertions of the Premier League. That has to inspire them to keep doing it all again, and more.

(Header photo: Thibaud Moritz/AFP)

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