The UEFA Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal ended 1–1 after extra time, with Paris Saint-Germain defeating Arsenal 4–3 on penalties in Budapest. Arsenal struck first through Kai Havertz, but Ousmane Dembélé’s second-half penalty brought PSG level before the match went all the way to a shootout.
Possession: PSG dominated the ball
One of the most striking aspects of the final was PSG’s control of possession. They finished with roughly 75% of the ball, while Arsenal had only about 25%. Several reports noted that Arsenal’s possession figure was the lowest recorded for a Champions League final since detailed tracking began. PSG’s dominance in midfield forced Arsenal into a compact, defensive shape for long periods.
PSG star performers
According to major player-rating outlets, PSG’s standout players included:
• Vitinha – Widely praised for controlling the tempo and helping PSG sustain their huge possession advantage. His passing and positioning were central to PSG’s dominance.
• Ousmane Dembélé – Scored the equalising penalty and remained PSG’s main attacking threat before being substituted.
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Received some of the highest ratings in several assessments for his creativity and ability to stretch Arsenal’s defence.
Overall, PSG’s midfield trio and wide attackers were viewed as the decisive force behind their territorial and possession superiority.
Arsenal star performers
For Arsenal, the highest-rated players generally came from the defensive unit:
• Gabriel Magalhães – Despite missing the decisive penalty in the shootout, many outlets rated him Arsenal’s best player. He was outstanding defensively and repeatedly disrupted PSG attacks.
• Piero Hincapié – Earned strong ratings for a resilient display under constant pressure.
• Declan Rice and David Raya – Both received positive reviews for helping Arsenal stay in the game despite spending long spells without possession.
Disappointing stars
Some of Arsenal’s biggest attacking names struggled to influence the match:
• Bukayo Saka was largely contained and received relatively low ratings.
• Martin Ødegaard found it difficult to dictate play against PSG’s midfield pressure.
Verdict
The final was a contrast in styles. Arsenal defended bravely and were carried by excellent performances from Gabriel and the back line, but PSG’s overwhelming possession (around 75%) eventually wore them down. The ratings reflected that story: Arsenal’s defenders were their stars, while PSG’s midfielders and attackers—especially Vitinha, Dembélé, and Kvaratskhelia – were generally judged the game’s most influential players.
PSG’s second consecutive Champions League title is potentially a watershed moment in European football. By retaining the trophy against Arsenal, they became the first club since Real Madrid to win back-to-back Champions Leagues, a feat that underlines just how difficult it is to stay at the top of Europe.
What this means for PSG’s legacy
For years, PSG were viewed as a club with enormous resources but without the European pedigree of clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, or Liverpool. Their first Champions League title in 2025 answered questions about whether they could win the competition. The second title answers a much bigger question: whether they can build a dynasty.
What’s particularly impressive is that this PSG side is not built around a single superstar. Under Luis Enrique, they’ve become a collective machine built on midfield control, aggressive pressing, tactical flexibility, and elite wide attackers. Players such as Vitinha, João Neves, Ousmane Dembélé, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are all either in or near their peak years.
The scary part for the rest of Europe is that PSG do not look like a team nearing the end of a cycle. They look like a team in the middle of one.
If they win again next season, conversations will shift from “best team in Europe” to “one of the great club sides of the modern era.”
Are PSG entering an era of dominance?
There are reasons to think so:
- They have a relatively young core.
- Their tactical identity is well established.
- They have exceptional squad depth.
- Most of their key players are under long-term contracts.
- Luis Enrique has created a system that is bigger than any individual player.
However, sustained European dominance is extraordinarily difficult. The Champions League is a knockout competition, and even the best teams can be eliminated by injuries, bad luck, or a poor performance over two matches.
PSG may be the best team in Europe right now, but history shows that maintaining that status for three or four consecutive seasons is one of the hardest achievements in sport.
What Arsenal need to change
Arsenal should not overreact to losing this final. Reaching the final while also winning the Premier League suggests they are already among Europe’s elite.
That said, the final exposed one issue: against the very best possession teams, Arsenal can become too reactive.
PSG controlled roughly three-quarters of possession and dictated the rhythm of the game. Arsenal defended superbly but spent too much time without the ball. Eventually, that pressure became difficult to sustain.
To win the Champions League, Arsenal may need to evolve in three areas:
1. Become more comfortable controlling games against elite opponents
Arteta’s side are outstanding when dominating Premier League matches, but against teams like PSG they can sometimes retreat into a defensive shell.
The next step is learning to impose themselves even against Europe’s strongest possession sides. That means:
- More progressive midfield passing.
- Greater ability to escape pressure.
- Longer periods of controlled possession in major knockout games.
2. Add another elite creator
When PSG squeezed the midfield, Arsenal struggled to create sustained attacks.
Adding another high-level creative player who can receive between the lines and break pressure could prevent Arsenal becoming overly dependent on Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka.
3. Become more ruthless in transition
Ironically, Arsenal’s defensive structure is already Champions-League-winning quality.
The difference between finalists and winners is often efficiency. PSG created danger from relatively few attacking moments because their wide forwards were devastating in transition.
Arsenal need to turn defensive recoveries into goals more consistently.
The bigger picture
This final felt less like Arsenal failing and more like PSG setting the standard.
Arsenal look capable of returning to the latter stages for several years, especially with players such as Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and William Saliba forming a strong core.
But the challenge for everyone in Europe is now clear: if you want to win the Champions League, you probably have to beat PSG. And at the moment, PSG look like the benchmark against which every elite club will measure itself.
