After the Champions League final whistle, the clash of styles had no real loser, but Arsenal could have done better.

With all club competitions finished for the season, supporters are now looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico later this month. It's been said that once the Champions League final ended, Paris retained the crown, and Arsenal fell short in a penalty shootout, denying them their first European Cup. Disappointing as it is, neither side truly lost in this clash of contrasts.

When a Champions League final goes all the way to penalties, both teams have clearly given their all; there are no losers. Yet history will remember Paris as the back-to-back champions for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons. Arsenal, meanwhile, reclaimed the Premier League title after 22 years and reached the final unbeaten in the Champions League, only to finish as runners-up. They were arguably the best defensive team across Europe's top five leagues, but manager Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff could have done more.

Did you know? In this Champions League final, the Paris goalkeeper recorded zero saves. So what does that mean? Arsenal's defense was indeed rock-solid, but their attack was truly ineffective. That's why many fans and netizens wanted Paris to win—because most people appreciate attractive, pure football. Arsenal's style, by contrast, was painful to watch, even ugly, and such tactics simply didn't deserve the big-eared trophy.

Arsenal's defense is undoubtedly the strongest in Europe's top five leagues. But in this final, Arteta's decision to start Mosquera at right-back may have been a mistake—Timber would have been the better choice. The squad also has clear weaknesses that fans and online commentators discuss every day, but Arteta has turned a blind eye. Specifically, the left-wing position is the biggest offensive shortcoming. This season, both Ødegaard and Saka have been mediocre. Arsenal boast the best defense, but their attacking unit is woeful. Winning the Premier League is great, but it owes a lot to Manchester City's transition period and Liverpool's slump. Some say that with Guardiola gone, Arteta is ready to build a new dynasty in English football. In my opinion, that will be very difficult. A strong team that can't attack will struggle to win league titles, let alone consecutive ones!

Arsenal's failure in the Champions League final hurts deeply for Gunners fans. There's a saying: the big-eared trophy is the ticket to being considered a European giant. Without a Champions League title, you don't have that ticket, and you can't enter the club of Europe's elite. So how can you call yourself a giant? Just look at Henry's expression—it shows how painful it is for Arsenal to miss out on their first ever Champions League crown.

Take a look at the list of English clubs' European honors—Arsenal's absence stands out awkwardly. What Arteta must do now is figure out how to boost Arsenal's attacking firepower next season. If he can't improve that, he will never be regarded as a top manager, and Arsenal will struggle to become a true European giant, because a team that can't attack simply can't win fans' hearts.

If this Champions League final—a supreme battle of opposites—truly had no loser, then the biggest loser was Mbappé. Before joining Real Madrid, they were Champions League winners; after he joined, they have gone two consecutive seasons without any silverware. Meanwhile, Paris, who lost Mbappé, have won back-to-back Champions League titles. How awkward is that for Mbappé?