A Harsh Critique of Arsenal’s Tactics in the Champions League Final
French World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry has been vocal about his disappointment with Arsenal’s performance in the recent Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He described the team’s approach as “unbearable” and “intolerable,” calling them “a bunch of clowns” for allowing the final to slip through their fingers.
Arsenal entered the match in Budapest with an impressive undefeated record in the competition, but the newly crowned English champions struggled against PSG, the holders. Despite taking an early lead through Kai Havertz, the Gunners were eventually defeated by PSG on penalties after the game ended level at the end of extra-time.
Although Arsenal finally ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title just a week earlier, the disappointing result means their quest to be crowned European champions will continue into next season.
Despite PSG being regarded as one of the finest attacking teams, Arsenal faced criticism for their largely defensive approach during the match. They finished with less than 25% of the possession, and Havertz’s sixth-minute goal was their only shot on target.
Dugarry expressed his frustration, stating, “Arsenal will remain the greatest club to have never won the Champions League. Well done to Arsenal, but what a shame.” He criticized the team’s strategy, saying, “Their intentions were clear from the start of the match: absolutely nothing, zilch, they did nothing. At no point did they come onto the pitch to create anything.”
He continued, “We saw clearances, an Arsenal team that systematically tried to waste time. It was simply unbearable, intolerable. And what almost proved terrible for football and the people who love it is that they almost gave the illusion that by creating and doing so little, you can win the Champions League.”
A Scathing Rant from a Football Legend
Dugarry went further, claiming it would have been a “scandal” had Arsenal’s “clowns” come out on top. “They’re a bunch of clowns,” he said. “They arrived with an inflated ego, with Arteta saying, ‘We’re going to beat them.’ I’m so glad Arsenal got the short end of the stick, and I hope that if they ever want to win it, they’ll start playing football.”
He emphasized that Arsenal cannot play like that, stating, “This isn’t Arsenal! This club has a history, they’re the Gunners, there’s a legacy, a style of football. They can’t play like that, it’s impossible.”
Dugarry added, “You can’t win the Champions League doing things like that. And even if they had succeeded, it would have been a scandal. They would have won it, but they would have been bitter about it.”
The Impact of Defensive Tactics
Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley also criticized Arsenal’s cautious tactics, insisting that Arteta’s ultra-defensive approach was unlikely to succeed after taking the lead so early. “Let’s lay it out on the table, when they scored after six minutes, they tried to defend their way to the 90th minute,” Burley told ESPN.
He pointed out the contrast between how the two teams approached the match. “Had it been PSG who scored after six minutes, they would have carried on attacking and probing and trying to win the game. And that’s the contrast in how these two teams approach, not only the final, but approach football.”
Burley noted that PSG are very progressive, while Arsenal regressed into defending. “They almost pulled it off, but that’s tough to do. A valiant effort from Arsenal, but in terms of a football game, PSG by far, even not at their best, by far the better of these two sides.”
Unconventional Tactics Drawn Criticism
Burley also took aim at Arsenal’s unorthodox kick-off routine in the Hungarian capital, which saw Declan Rice launch the ball into the sky to set up aerial duels against PSG. “Three times from a kick-off they’ve lobbed it forward like it was a game of rugby. That’s embarrassing,” he said.
He added, “They’ve sat there and said, ‘you know what, let’s just launch a high ball every time we get a kick-off and try and win’. That’s 1980s football back in England. It really is.”
Burley concluded, “I don’t get all the plaudits. Sure, Champions League final, they got there, they were competitive because they were defensive. But I don’t understand all the plaudits when your game plan, once you get the goal, is to just sit back and allow the best footballing side in Europe possession of the football and trying to defend for 84 minutes.”
A Call for Change
Dugarry and Burley both highlighted the need for Arsenal to adopt a more proactive approach in future matches. They believe that the team must return to its roots and play the style of football that has defined its history.
The criticism underscores the importance of adapting strategies that align with the club’s legacy and the expectations of its fans. As Arsenal looks ahead to the next season, the lessons from the Champions League final will be crucial in shaping their approach moving forward.
Fan Perspectives
A poll conducted among fans asked whether Arsenal should play the right game-plan against PSG. The responses were split, with some supporting the current approach and others advocating for a more aggressive strategy.
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