Mikel Arteta says Arsenal's Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint Germain in Budapest is still sitting with him. He described it as a scar and said the pain has to stay, because it should keep pushing Arsenal forward rather than fading into the background.
Arteta's message after Budapest
"I still have the scar, like Arsene says. I still have that poison in my veins," Arteta told goal.com. He added: "It has to stay there because that’s when you learn and that probably is going to be a massive driver for me and everybody."
The final came just 11 days after Arsenal lifted the league trophy, their first Premier League crown in 22 years. They drew 1-1 with Paris Saint Germain before losing on penalties, and Arteta clearly wants that experience treated as fuel rather than as an excuse.
Arsenal's longer project
Arteta also tied the disappointment to the wider project at Arsenal. He said: "It’s a privilege to commit my future to the club and to continue to work with exceptional people who want the best for Arsenal," before speaking about building the next three squads and staying ahead of changes to the game.
That sits alongside a season in which Arsenal are second in the Premier League after five matches with 12 points. The domestic response to the Brighton defeat is already there too, with four wins after that loss, while Paris Saint Germain arrive in this story as a reminder of the level Arsenal were up against after they won all 8 of their Champions League matches last season.
Arteta is not trying to bury the setback. He is treating it as part of the cost of getting close, and Arsenal's next test is domestic action against Leeds before Lille visit the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
