Football Daily - UCL Debrief: Arsenal beaten, PSG go back-to-back!

Episode Date: May 30, 2026

Reaction from Budapest as Premier League champions Arsenal are beaten by French title winners PSG, who become the first side to go back-to-back in the UEFA Champions League since Real Madrid. How remarkable is the job done by PSG boss Luis Enrique? Did Mikel Arteta get the gameplan right? What can Arsenal learn from this defeat? Analysis and discussion with former Arsenal defender Matt Upson, Premier League winner Chris Sutton, chief football correspondent John Murray, French football journalist Julien Laurens and Steve Crossman.Timecodes: 00:40 Marquinhos’ touching gesture to Gabriel after the missed penalty 03:30 Arsenal dealing with a cruel defeat 04:30 Did Arsenal give enough in this final? 09:30 Are PSG now one of football’s greatest club sides? 14:40 Reaction from Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta — what has he told his players, how can Arsenal take the next step? 16:17 What can Arsenal do to get closer to victory?

On the Football Daily podcast, Champions League debrief with Steve Crosman. It only feels like about 60 seconds ago that Gabrielle's penalty went over the bar. Already down on the pitch, there is a stage, there is a huge sign which says champions on it. There is a platform that the Arsenal players don't want to look at. They're facing directly away from it to the other end of the stadium because they know they're going to have to walk that walk. They're going to have to pick up runners' medals very, very soon. and the shoulders have slumped because they kept themselves upright,

they hung in there for 120 minutes, and in the end it's for now. So myself, John Murray, Matt Upsen, and ESPN's Julianne, will be reacting to what we've just seen. And it was Jules a powerful moment that when the first man over to the devastated Gabriel,

when his shirt was almost still over his head, was his Brazilian teammate, the PSGG. Captain Marquinius. Yeah, I think it shows how the class of Marquino to start with. And yes, they will go to the World Cup together. They're the starting centerbacks for Brazil and Carlo Ancelotti. But to think about your friend before going to celebrate with your fans, with your team as the

PhD captain for a second championship in a row, this is not a little competition. This is not a little trophy. This tonight PhD are making history and this PhD team is going to be talked among the greatest of all time. And for him to be so unselfish that to be very much, to be very selfish that to be a little bit. go and see Gabriel like that, I think shows the human being that he really is and I think that's fantastic. Even for any neutral map, that is quite hard to watch that. That is that is heartbreaking.

You wouldn't want it to happen to literally anybody, obviously. No. He's such a massive part of their success. He just doesn't deserve that moment. Yeah, I'm finding it hard to watch. If I'm honest, I think it's really difficult to see because he's just carried so much this season. His attitude, his presence, his personality, his fight. He's brought it all, Gabriel, and he leaves it out there every time.

To be brave enough to step up, knowing that it's probably not an amazing part of his game penalty taking, but he's got the mentality and the metal to step up and do it. That just says everything you need to know that you're taking it in this kind of pressure, in this kind of moment. It's so sad for him. And I can just see in his face there. I mean, he's recovered really well. I think he needed consoling initially,

but he can tell he's already kind of refocusing and coming to terms with it. As you have to, he's got a huge tournament to play for his country in the summer, but so sad it had to be him who's been so influential for Arsenal this season. Lewis Enrique is down there, waving his arms around,

obviously having the time of his life, and clearly we will talk about PSG and give them all of the credit they deserve. Enrique has kept his top on this time, which he didn't this time last year when he won Paris Saint-Germans first Champions League. They've won it back-to-back, an incredible achievement. Louis Enrique has his third.

So the pantheon of great European football managers just has to throw up in its doors for him now. He joins Bob Paisley, Pep Guardiola, and Zinadine Zidan on three. Only Carlo Ancelotti with five has more. I'm just looking over to my left here, though, Jules. And the thing that struck me is so many Arsenal players dotted around

with four or five metres between them, So many of them still. Averichias has barely moved. He's just sort of shuffling his feet now. It's like they're all sort of stranded in their own personal moment of pain. Yeah, there's a lot of tears as well from the players, some of them for the staff.

I mean, Gabby Heinz, who's a very emotional guy from a PhD player, of course. It was a bit of a special game for him, like for Mikkel Arteeta in that sense. Can't stop crying either. He's a tough one to take all the time, you know, always. The penalties in a game like this,

of course it's very cruel. They can I think also have the head high, sorry, because the game plan worked because of, you know, this is also part of this team, how difficult they are to play against. I think Michel Arteta has built a machine in terms of the defensive structure and the work rate that they have and there's something really beautiful in them.

But I think for this PhD team, to break their dreams like that is a very difficult one to take. Sometimes, Matt, the hardest thing to take, in a final is if your team lose without throwing a punch and you just sort of turn up and you think, oh, we weren't there. That is not this final. No. Arsenal gave more. I was going to say give everything. They gave more than I thought it was possible to give. Yeah, I agree. I mean, if you start to break it down on the numbers and the percentages and the possession and the passes and the attempts at goal, you would think it was such a one-sided boxing matches and in many aspects it was. But in the possession. It was designed that way and it was designed that way on purpose to achieve a goal which was to win the Champions League and it's inches away. It was in touching distance and they took it to a place where maybe they always felt or knew that it may well go to that place. I totally felt that once it went to 1-1, you thought to yourself, the only really way that Arsenal was probably going to win this now is if it's on penalties.

They took it there. The endeavour of the players, the energy, the legs had gone. Hacquier was just immense stepping into that role at this stage just tells you a lot about him and what he's given to the team and I just think it's just a great collective effort and like you say to finish in that way it's brutal sport at its most painful but has to happen to someone and that person's Gabrielle the Beretsiaz has just collapsed to his knees I'm just looking I can see Nonimad Weirke and Declan Rice taking up the exact same pose sitting next next each other, arms outstretched, just trying to take in what has just happened to them. And the other thing that occurred to me, Jules, is, you know, I know Mikhail Artaire in the way he's on the touch on, I get that that's not for everybody. Nobody can say that he puts anything less than every ounce of his heart and soul into

everything he does as a manager. Is it going to be even more difficult for him? Because in the end, the way they lost it is literally the only part of a game. he cannot control. Yeah, I think you probably see it like that. They will also see the positives because that's the kind of guy that he is and the progression. You know, final this year, semi-final, last year, quarterfinal, the year before you get in closer and closer. You won your first primary title.

You're the favorite to defend it next season. You will be the favorite in the Champions League as well to go one further because this team had a bit more of maybe attacking power or attacking desire wherever you want to put it. And this team can have everything. have everything. You know, it will never be this PhD team in the way they play because that's not the style of this manager of Michel Artetan and it's not the players for that, but they will have everything and they're really not far and today is cruel and it will hurt, it will hurt tonight, they will go back to London tomorrow, there's the parade with the fans, they will show their

Premier League trophy for the first time in 22 years and tomorrow already that moment with the fans and that communion with the fans with that parades will help massively. And then there's holidays for some, World Cup for others. And then you can go again in August, but it should not take away all the great things this team have achieved this season. Arsenal just looked frozen. Barely any player in red and white now is moving a muscle. It's so tough. Been so zoned in on the pitch. I didn't notice that Chris Sutton has rejoined us. He'll be doing the commentary later on match of the day on the highlights. You're right, Chris. That was such a difficult thing to watch. Yeah, I mean, you know, the matcher's build, I think, is the best attack in Europe

against the best defense and it panned out that way and you know Arsenal get themselves in front and then defended brilliantly and really limited PSG to very few chances and I felt for Moscow route had a brilliant hour before I mean it was a penalty you know it was a foul and and tucked away and Arsenal still just just kept with their game plan were very direct and it was a second ball game and it's basic football but they limited PSG to very few chances took them all the way through extra time and then I think penalties are a skill people will say well they're a lottery

but they're not as about skill and holding your nerve there will be people who will think well why did Gabriel take a penalty and not matter where okay but you know it's just one of those things and I just feel for him because he has been sensational for Arsenal this season you know him and Sir Libre have been given Arsenal that foundation for their success

in the Premier League and the the run which they've had in Europe. And it's a moment that he will always remember for all the wrong reasons. But the players will rally around him and what have you. It's still been a great season, I think, as Jules quite rightly says, but you can't get away from the fact that you're in a big Champions League final, that the chance was there. And Arsenal haven't taken it.

But you've got to say, this PSG team, I mean, they are exceptional. How long can this run go on for? But Arsenal nullified them. But yeah, really feel for Mikhail Artecena and his Arsenal team. Three European Cups for Louis Enrique. And for Paris Saint-German, well, Rail Madrid many times over. Milan of the 90s, Inter of the 60s, Clubs Forrest, Croyce, Ayax, Yusayos, Benfica, back-to-back, Julianne,

Le Ron. And in doing so, besides of all time. Yeah, without doubt, the way they've done it, last season especially, with the win and the way they played and this season in a very different way because your position was very different but to go back to back in this competition even more now with more teams in it.

It's just an incredible achievement they're making history today. For French football, obviously, for this club, as you know, means so much to me, obviously, but also in football history because what Wies and Ruki has done in the last two years is just simply unbelievable. Astonishing achievement, Chris,

for Louis Enrique, anyone to win this competition once, let alone do it back to back, let alone do it three times with two clubs. Yeah, and George mentioned last year and the way that they did it. There's a lot to be admired about the team though because we you know we always paint the picture of the beautiful football which they play and they do. They have such wonderful young talent but the way they've won at this season, they've had to show a fair bit of resilience. They did tonight. They did in the second leg in Munich where they've really dug deep with the defensive rearguard display. And, yeah, Arsenal pushed them all the way.

I mean, there will be people out there who would have felt that Arsenal's sort of style was, you know, would it have been sort of deserved had Arsenal won it playing their way? And I understand that argument, but it's about finding a way. And Arsenal came so, so close, but PSG, I don't think anybody would begrudge them

of winning this trophy once a game. And you know, we talk about memories a lot, Why, and we're very privileged because we get to see a lot of games and we travel everywhere and we go. My two best friends are just opposite. They drove from Paris last night. They left at 9 p.m. It took them 16 hours through the whole of Germany

and Austria to be here today. My brother flew to Vienna and then missed his connection flight, had to drive with this guy who sat next to him on the plane that I didn't know before he took that plane who had the rental car and took him all the way here to Budapest. And those moments there is cruel for Arsenal fans, of course, and one day they would be on the other side, Of course, it's inevitable that this club is someone

will win the Champions League. But for every PhD fan here, this final means a story, that a story that you will tell in 10 years time, 20 years time, 30, a bit like last season in Munich and my boys being in the stadium too. Those stories you would tell and you will repeat

and they will make you cry because this is very, very special. Some of the kids and some of the players have just got onto the pitch and they are literally dancing and knee sliding in the golden glitter that is right in the center circle here next to the big champion stage where PSG have just lifted the trophy. They're now on a real sort of walk of honor in front of all of their fans. It was ever thus on a cup final day away to our left-hand side.

The Arsenal fans have almost emptied away to the right. The white shirts of the PSG supporters are not going anywhere. Matt, when I was talking about Louis Enrique, whose face has just popped up on the big screen their right in front of the PSG fans, mentioned some of the other teams to have done. it back to back and you look at it through the lens of their coaches like Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest some you look at it through the lens of their players like Benfica and Yusebio all these PSG fans will be thinking about when they wake up tomorrow morning is Wenzlose Enrique signing his next contrast yeah I think so and why wouldn't you with what he's

done in the time that he's been there I mean I think it's it's such a potent combination of an ambitious club with financial back a coach like him who's had the experience and wants to play the type of dynamic flowing football and interesting, exciting football to watch and so many top young players as well. He's got a lovely blend in the squad of age and I think what's interesting about them that that team and squad even bar the goalkeeper hasn't changed. It just shows you the harmony to keep that settled. Most people would say that if you're not constantly developing it,

you're either standing still or moving backwards. But they haven't. So he's managed to get the same or even more out of the same group, which is actually really rare when you're going to stay at the top of the tree. You've normally got to permanently every window, every six months you've got to evolve and bring new and fresh and keep it, keep it there. They haven't done that.

They've just kept that same. And so he's stimulating that group of players enough to then go and win it again back to back which is less weight. It's immense. Mentality monsters. All right, let's get some reaction from the Arsenal manager then. What a tough night for him. Here is Mikhail Artata.

When you are so close in the competition and you are a few penalty kickouts away from winning the biggest football club competition, that's the way we should feel. First of all, you have to go through that pain, digest it and turn it into fuel, as you said, to improve and to reach a little. and to reach a different level because it will demand a different level with the quality that is around Europe. I want to congratulate PSG, Luis in particular, because they are, in my opinion, the best team in the world, what they are able to do with the ball, with individual actions.

I haven't seen it, and it's not the plan to play in certain areas when you don't have the ball, but they force you to do that. So even more creative to the players. What I said to the players and the staff is that if I tell them one million times thank you, it's not going to be enough. And it's not because we won the Premier League and it's not because we play the Cup final. It's not because we played the championship league final in the manner that we've done. It's because the joy and the moments that we have lived together every single day and that's above anything else. The same progression that we had in the last few years, we're going to have to do that over again

and the level is increasing every single season. We had an incredible competition. We haven't lost a single match in the competition. But the reality is that when something had to go our way, especially in the boxes, with a penalty that it was given to Moskeda and no penalty to Marueke and the penalty kicks, those marching didn't go for us. What can Arsenal do to get closer than that, Jules?

They're on the right way. The progression has been linear. and superb really the last few years. In the same way that they won the Premier League after being disappointed to finish second three seasons in a row, this is the same. And they will come back stronger next season to go and win. I think,

and again, the early goal amplified probably a bit of the game plan and things like that. But you saw at times when they play that they could also cause problems to a team like this. So they will recruit and I think they will recruit well in the summer. They need somebody, for example, on the left wing.

They probably need somebody defensively too. There's a few positions where they could do better. I think if Timber had started this game, it would have been a different story if he's been fully fit. I'm not sure Sakha was fully fake completely either and he's had a season where there's been a few niggles. So they will come back stronger, but they're not far. That's the most important today.

They show they were a penalty away. That's how close they are of winning the Champions League. They should not forget that. They've finished Champions League runners up, but they've not actually lost a match outright in the competition. Yeah. And you know 20 years ago?

20 years ago, they lost a final against Barcelona, a great barcett team. But they were not, it was already in a cycle that was going down here. Agreed. They were not on their way up like this. It was a very different environment and context to the one that they are in, they find themselves today. And I think that also this is very important because they won't have to wait 20 more years now to be back here. Well, I think what's interesting is the last probably four things, seasons they've built of course every year they've got closer around a 16 quarter

finals semi final final what's next but they're a team aren't they you know they are now Premier League winners beaten here in the Champions League final and I think what'll be interesting is to see how Michael Latetto and he surely gets this new contract what he does next and whether he tries to introduce you know, a real wild card, some flare, you know, a bit of silk to add to the steel. Yeah, yeah, that's a real good point. I think they need again a bit of strengthening and they will. It's inevitable. You're on your way up, you have to keep going, keep going. And again, I think they are aware that they're getting closer to everything that they want to achieve.

Right, that's almost it from us then. So why don't we just do final thoughts, whether it's the season, John Murray, whether it's the night that we've just seen for Arsenal and Parry Sanjou. in this Champions League. I mean, it is heartbreaking, but the parade tomorrow, whilst it will have 5% weirdness, there will still be 95% joy at what they have achieved. Yeah, I mean, obviously there will be disappointment

for Arsenal supporters that they haven't been able to lift this trophy as well and make it an unforgettable season. You know, it would have been greatness. That's how close they were. The penalty shootout away from this team being remand remembered forever. However, they have achieved the number one target. That's what, after finishing runners up, three years running,

it was loaded on Arsenal, the money that they spent last summer, the recruitment that they made. It had to be the Premier League and they've won that, and that's what they'll celebrate in North London tomorrow. History made today for this PhD team, this wonderful team, and last season will always be the first one, and it will always be special. But I think they will enjoy this one more

because they had to dig deep, they had to fight, they had to come back in a game. Last season was almost a bit too easy against Inter. It was wonderful football and everything. But this one, I think, and because it's back to back. And again, back to back, you joined the greatest of all time. Yeah, Arsenal have to keep reminding themselves of what the objectives were, like what John said.

They've achieved so much to come this close here and to take the title after looking in the season like it was going to go horribly paired. horribly pear shaped. The recovery of the team, the strength of the group's got more. They'll go again next year, and they've got a manager with the energy and drive to want to take it to the next level.

Speaking of energy and drive, Luis Enrique is still bouncing up and down. This time with Nasser Alkalifi, the PSG president. We can still see the Champions League trophy just in the middle of a huddle of PSG players and staff, shining bright. It was their North Star that trophy for so long. Now they have won.

it again. Jules, John, Matt, thank you all very much indeed. Congratulations to Paris Sanjaman and Arsenal fans. Well, I know the celebrations at Selhurst were absolutely frenzied. This was penalty kicks away from fever pitch. Instead, it is that sporting sickness that I think only football fans truly recognize and realize. So that's it for this club season. Next for the World Cup. And we will be there on 5 Live with the football daily, with unrivaled live coverage. Some of us are off to Mexico, city first, others to Florida. But just over a week from today, the coverage will begin.

That will feel like an eons and it won't be something that Arsenal fans want to think about for now. But it is just over the horizon. They'll enjoy the parade. That's it from us here in Budapest. As always, thank you so much for listening. feeling you get when it's about to go in the net and everyone goes feels like we know that we know that feeling world cut 2026 coming soon on 5 live and BBC sounds