Arsenal’s long wait for a UEFA Champions League title continued on Saturday after a heartbreaking final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, a result that also saw the English club set an unwanted record in the competition.
The Gunners fell to PSG on penalties after an intense final in Budapest ended 1-1 following extra time. Kai Havertz scored for Arsenal, while Ousmane Dembele found the net for the French champions, forcing the match into a shootout where PSG ultimately emerged victorious.
The defeat means Arsenal have now played 226 matches in Europe’s premier club competition without winning the trophy — the highest number of games played by any club in Champions League history without being crowned champions, according to football statistics provider Opta.
It was another painful chapter for the North London side, whose only previous appearance in a Champions League final ended in defeat to Barcelona in 2006. Two decades later, Arsenal are still searching for their first European crown.
The final also produced another disappointing statistic for Mikel Arteta’s side. Arsenal recorded just 24.7 percent possession during the match, the lowest possession figure ever registered by a team in a Champions League final since detailed records began in the 2003-04 season.
The figure was equally significant for Arteta, marking the lowest possession percentage recorded by an Arsenal team under his management in a match where all 11 players remained on the field throughout.
Despite an impressive run to the final, Arsenal’s dream of finally lifting the Champions League trophy ended in disappointment, while PSG successfully defended their European title after prevailing in the dramatic shootout.
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