Arsenal made their long-awaited return to the UEFA Champions League final, facing Paris Saint-Germain at Budapest's Puskás Aréna. It marked only the second time in the club's history that the Gunners had reached European football's showpiece match, 20 years after their previous appearance in 2006
Under manager Mikel Arteta, the Premier League side delivered an impressive campaign, going unbeaten in the competition until the final. They topped their group and navigated tough knockout stages, showcasing defensive solidity and attacking flair that had fans dreaming of a first-ever Champions League title. However, that's not what happened.
When was last time Arsenal reached Champions League final?
In the final, Kai Havertz gave Arsenal an early lead, but Ousmane Dembélé equalized from the penalty spot for PSG. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, leading to a tense penalty shootout. Arsenal's misses from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhães handed PSG a 4-3 victory on spot-kicks, allowing the French club to retain their title.
This run evoked memories of the 2005/06 season under Arsène Wenger. That year, Arsenal became the first London club to reach a Champions League final, facing Barcelona at the Stade de France in Paris. Despite leading through Sol Campbell, they were reduced to 10 men after Jens Lehmann's early red card and ultimately lost 2-1, with goals from Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti sealing Barcelona's victory.
The 2026 final represented a significant milestone for the Gunners, who had endured years of near-misses and group-stage disappointments in the competition since 2006. Reaching the final again highlighted the progress made during Arteta's tenure, blending experienced players with a core of exciting talents.
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