Arsenal had a Champions League final within touching distance. Gabriel Magalhães skied a penalty in the shootout that might have handed Europe's top prize to Mikel Arteta's side. A defensive lapse by Cristhian Mosquera, who tripped Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, gave Paris Saint-Germain the opening they needed to claw back into Saturday's match after falling behind early.
But the true margin of PSG's dominance went beyond those pivotal moments. Arsenal held just 24.7 percent possession, the lowest in a Champions League final since records began tracking the statistic. In 120 minutes, the Gunners managed 196 passes. PSG, by contrast, strung together more than 800 passes, with 488 coming in Arsenal's half of the pitch.
Restricting PSG the way Arsenal did counts for something, and Arteta's defensive discipline was evident. Yet that same discipline revealed a critical vulnerability. The Gunners need to become more imposing when facing elite opponents if they hope to win these tournaments going forward.
The left wing offers the clearest path to improvement. Leandro Trossard started the final but barely registered a touch inside PSG's box. Gabriel Martinelli provided more vertical intensity off the bench but made poor decisions when Arsenal had chances on the break. Arteta's measured approach to squad building worked last summer when careful depth additions helped Arsenal win the Premier League for the first time since the Arsène Wenger years. Now Budapest demands a fresh evolution of that process.
Liverpool's Delayed Reckoning
While Fenway Sports Group deliberated over Arne Slot's future, Liverpool fans were openly calling for Xabi Alonso. The former midfielder seemed like the obvious choice to steer the club past a disappointing 2025-26 campaign. Then Saturday arrived with news of Slot's departure, arriving two weeks after Chelsea snapped up Alonso, and the Anfield faithful were left bewildered.
Why did Liverpool move only after their preferred candidate accepted Chelsea's offer? The timing defied explanation. Alonso made tactical sense beyond his status as a beloved former player. His possession-based, proactive soccer aligned with the direction FSG had been steering the club toward for years. Even during Jurgen Klopp's final stretch, Liverpool were adding more control to their play. Alonso would have been that natural continuation.
There was another dimension too. At Bayer Leverkusen, Alonso developed both Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong into world-class talents. Both players struggled for consistent form in their first Liverpool season after expensive summer moves. Alonso's appointment would have protected the club's significant investment in those two players.
Instead, Liverpool are closing in on Andoni Iraola, the former Bournemouth manager. He arrives highly regarded but without the elite silverware Alonso can claim. Iraola's style leans toward Klopp's transition-heavy approach rather than the possession-orientated football Slot championed. FSG got what they wanted in removing Slot, then charted their own course forward anyway.
Gordon's Spanish Dream
Anthony Gordon's 69.3 million pound transfer to Barcelona last week raised eyebrows even before he stepped to the microphone. The Liverpool-born winger spoke fluent Spanish, complete with a slight Scouse accent, revealing he had been preparing for years to wear the Barcelona shirt. As a kid, he believed this moment would come, he said at his Camp Nou unveiling.
That Barcelona valued Gordon so highly seemed curious to outsiders. He managed just three open-play goals across 26 league appearances for Newcastle United last season. His potential had shone brightly when he emerged as an Everton wonderkid, but his development appeared to stall on Tyneside.
More baffling still, Barcelona hold a clause allowing them to sign Marcus Rashford permanently for just 25.9 million pounds after his loan spell from Manchester United. Yet they chose to spend more than double that amount on a player who may rank behind Rashford in England's World Cup pecking order.
Hansi Flick sees Gordon differently. The Barcelona manager views him as a system fit, a player built for what the club needs right now. Gordon's relentless pressing from the front, combined with his explosive transition pace, fill a gap that elite-level wide talent has made scarce at the highest level. At 25, Gordon arrives ready. Barcelona, it seems, is ready for him too.
Author James Rodriguez: "Liverpool's hesitation on Alonso cost them a manager perfectly suited to their future, while Arsenal's loss proves possession alone doesn't win trophies in 2024."
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