AFCON 2025
Arsenal have established themselves as one of Europe’s strongest teams under Mikel Arteta. They have reached the latter stages of the Champions League, challenged for major trophies and built a squad packed with quality.
Last season they crashed out in the Champions semi finals after losing to PSG, and now this season, they made a significant step forward, got into the final and yet again lost to PSG.
Yet despite all that progress, there are still reasons to doubt whether they can go all the way and lift the biggest trophy in club football next season.
1. They Still Lack A Ruthless Goalscorer For The Biggest Moments
Champions League winners almost always have a player who can decide games when everything else fails.
PSG have Ousmane Dembélé. Real Madrid have relied on players like Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior. Manchester City had Erling Haaland when they won the competition. Even Inter Milan reached the final largely because they had players capable of converting limited opportunities.
Arsenal create chances, but there remains a question over who their ultimate match-winner is on the biggest European nights.
Bukayo Saka is world class and Kai Havertz has improved significantly, but neither has consistently shown the ability to take over Champions League knockout matches the way the competition’s greatest forwards have done.
The final against PSG exposed that problem. Arsenal scored early but lacked the killer instinct to finish the game when opportunities presented themselves. At the highest level, one missed chance can be the difference between lifting the trophy and going home empty-handed.
Unless Arsenal find a truly elite striker capable of producing goals in decisive moments, they may continue falling just short.
2. The Competition Is Becoming More Difficult, Not Easier
Arsenal are improving, but so are their rivals.
PSG now look stronger and more balanced than at any point in their history. Real Madrid remain Real Madrid and will always be among the favourites. Barcelona are rebuilding with a talented young squad. Bayern Munich will be desperate to reclaim European dominance, while Manchester City are unlikely to remain quiet for long.
Winning the Champions League is not simply about being excellent. It is about being better than every other elite team in Europe over a period of ten months.
Arsenal may enter next season as one of the favourites, but being among the favourites and actually winning the competition are two very different things.
History shows that many outstanding teams spend years knocking on the door before finally breaking through. Some never do.
The margins are incredibly small, and Arsenal will once again have to navigate a field packed with clubs that possess equal or even greater European pedigree.
3. Mental Scars From This Defeat Could Return In Key Moments
Losing a Champions League final leaves a mark.
Players may insist they have moved on, but football history is filled with teams that struggled to recover from painful defeats on the biggest stage.
Arsenal invested enormous emotional energy into reaching the final. They came within touching distance of the club’s greatest achievement, only to see the trophy slip away after penalties.
The challenge now is psychological.
What happens when they find themselves leading in another semi-final? What happens if they concede a late goal in a knockout match? What happens if another game goes to penalties?
Champions are often defined by their ability to overcome disappointment, but not every team responds the same way.
Arsenal have the talent to win the Champions League. Few would argue otherwise. The question is whether they can completely erase the memories of Budapest and handle the pressure when the next defining moment arrives.
Until they prove they can do that, doubts will remain.
