Three Things We Learned after Arsenal's Champions League exit at PSG

Mikel Arteta’s semi-final record is beginning to feel like a mental block says Ian Mills

Here's Ian Mills with his regular series Three Things We Learned after Arsenal's hopes of Champions League glory ended in Paris 

Despite a fine second leg performance in Paris, our failure to boost our forward line with new signings ultimately cost us silverware this season:-

Here are three things that stood out for Ian Mills. 

1 - Lack of a clinical finisher the difference

– Gianlugi Donnarumma rightly took the plaudits for some incredible saves in both legs of this tie.

As a former goalkeeper myself I think the very best of the lot was the one from Martin Odegaard as not only did he see it late as the ball came through a sea of players, he also got down so quickly to palm it away.

However, could Gabi Martinelli have done better with both big chances he had across both legs? Should Leo Trossard have scored in the first leg?

What if Declan Rice (otherwise magnificent for the past couple of months) had put his header on target in the opening minutes?

All fine margins as Mikel Arteta referenced afterwards, had the club invested in at least one top quality striker last summer or in January the story of our season could have been so different.

We meekly limped out at the Champions League quarter-final stage last season following an insipid attacking display away to Bayern Munich in the second leg.

We improved on the last eight this time around, but where would an Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres or Ollie Watkins have taken us?

It is heavily on Andrea Berta, Arteta and the Kroenkes to make the necessary quality attacking additions this summer to allow this squad to achieve what they are capable of.

2 - Arteta’s semi-final record beginning to feel like a mental block

– this was the fourth two-legged semi-final defeat under the Spaniard’s stewardship, indeed we have won just one semi in his time as manager to date, in 2020 against Manchester City in the FA Cup.

Since then in eight ties we have scored just twice while exiting the Europa League in 2019-20 to eventual winners Villareal after a 1-2 reverse away and a tepid 0-0 draw in the home leg. The Carabao Cup to Liverpool (again the eventual winners) after a 0-0 draw at Anfield was followed by a 0-2 reverse at home, and this season’s defeats home and away by 0-2 to Newcastle United who, you guessed it also won the competition.

PSG must therefore fancy their chances of lifting the trophy in Munich on May 31 given the portents from our previous last four failings.

You have to wonder whether there is now a psychological issue that this team and Arteta have to overcome to get us over the line.

3 - Springtime in Paris is not a happy place for Arsenal

– we have now played four big European games in the French capital and recorded no wins.

In fact, aside from the spirited 1-1 draw in the 1994 European Cup Winners Cup semi-fnal first leg it is has been the scene of nothing except heartbreak for those of a Gunners’ persuasion.

Our grip on the Cup Winners Cup was ended in the final a year later thanks to Nayim’s fluke.

I was there for the 2006 Champions League final when our hopes were crushed in the pouring Parisian rain despite taking the lead as Barcelona came back to win the game in the closing stages - and now this.

The tears shed in the aftermath of this defeat need to be quickly wiped away as we still have Champions League football to secure as well as professional pride to play for in the Premier League.