Arsenal ended their 63-game season with a defeat on penalties in the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain.

Do we take solace from the fact that we ended the European campaign unbeaten? Not really? Maybe in time, though.

Do we point out that this season saw the Gunners compete for four trophies, win one, lose two to nation states, and the other to a Championship side condemned as cheats? Fuck it, why not? We can be bitter for a few hours before reflecting on an incredible campaign.

Anyway, here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…

Mikel Arteta on defeat…

It’s very tough when you are so consistent in the competition all the way to the final, and at the end you lose the trophy on a penalty kick. It’s difficult. I’m so proud of them. It’s just a privilege to manage this group of players, this team, the way they carry this badge and how much they put into it.

Source: UEFA.com

__

Luis Enrique on his side coming out on top…

The match started in the best way for them. After that, they know how to defend. It was very tough. We are used to attacking in that way with a lot of players behind the ball, but against them, they are strong physically, very tough. We deserve [it]. Maybe today both teams deserved to win, but the way we played the whole season, we deserve to win the Champions League. We are very happy and trying to be there next year – why not?

Source: UEFA.com

Martin Odegaard on the bigger picture…

It’s painful at the moment, but when you look at the bigger picture, we’ve had an incredible season. We won the league for the first time in 22 years, and of course, being this close today as well. We need to take our time in order to get over this loss. The season’s been amazing in a lot of different ways, we just couldn’t quite do the double, but we have to be proud of our performance. We’ve done some incredible things and we had a great run in the Champions League as well. We just have to use the feeling that we have now and also the positive feelings we have from this season to reflect on all of it, and make sure we come back even stronger in the next season. There are lots of good things to take and some things for sure in Europe as well.

Source: Arsenal.com

__

Ousmane Dembele on retaining the Champions League…

It’s exceptional, it’s a great night. We worked hard this season to achieve the back-to-back [titles]. It’s been difficult, the whole season has been difficult and we’ve had to manage a lot of things but, in the end, we’re still Champions League winners and we’re all happy.

Source: UEFA.com

Declan Rice on defeat by penalties…

It’s devastating to lose the Champions League final on penalties. We tried to take a lot of perspective from how far we’ve come as a group – it’s been an incredible season and this was our 63rd game tonight. We’ve given it absolutely everything up to this point and it’s a lottery – you either win on penalties or you lose on penalties. Some of the best teams ever have lost on penalties.

Source: UEFA.com

__

Arteta on whether Arsenal will make the final again soon…

I don’t know, we’re going to have to earn that. 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 have 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 the penalty that was given against Mosquera and the penalty to Madueke and the penalty kicks, those margins didn’t go for us.

Source: Post-game press conference

Arteta on his penalty takers…

Gabriel wanted to take the fifth penalty. Normally, the penalty takers would be Bukayo (Saka), Martin (Odegaard) and Kai (Havertz) for sure, and we knew when we went to extra-time and penalties that the takers would be different players. We still had quality, and in training, Ebs (Eze) doesn’t miss any, but then you have to take one in this moment, and unfortunately, we didn’t have the same precision.

Source: Post-game press conference

__

Odegaard on lifting Eze and Gabriel after their misses…

It is our job to pick them up now. We know what they have given to this team this season and we wouldn’t be here without them. That is a part of football, that is a part of life, it is our job to pick them – and everyone else – up and make sure we come back even better next season.

Source: Sky Sports

Vitinha on securing back-to-back Champions League wins…

I think this was probably the most important game of the season, and everyone was ready to go. Finishing off the season like this, it’s the ultimate dream – back-to-back. I’m so proud, everyone is proud, Paris is proud, our families are proud. Today, we can say we are the best in Europe. We take pleasure in playing with this group. We’re all humble, and that makes you want to give more. But we just want to celebrate with the people of Paris.

Source: UEFA.com

__

Arteta on whether Noni Madueke was fouled in the box…

I watch it back, and it could easily be a penalty. Especially, we see the penalty they gave me this year in the competition. This season, the referee made a decision, and he made a different one with Cristhian Mosquera and that is an important one.

Source: TNT Sports 

Chris Sutton on Arsenal’s defensive effort

Arsenal got themselves in front and defended brilliantly and limited PSG to very few chances. I felt for Cristhian Mosquera, who had a brilliant hour, but it was a penalty. Arsenal still kept with their game plan and were very direct. It has still been a great season…

Source: BBC Sport

__

Matthew Upson on Gabriel overcoming his penalty miss..

Gabriel had brought it all to the game, and he left it out there. He has the mentality and mettle to step up and do it. It is so sad for him, but he has recovered really well and is already refocusing. He has a huge tournament to play for his country in the summer.

Source: BBC Sport

Steven Gerrard on Luis Enrique…

For sure, he’s one of the managerial greats, given the company he is keeping in terms of managerial wins in the Champions League. Let’s not forget the trauma he had a few years back with his daughter [dying] as well, so to continue to be an elite manager after that deserves a special mention. He’s the manager, and he’s the leader of an incredible group of players. He’s got rid of the ones who could have affected that spirit that would have prevented them becoming an elite team. His leadership, his tactical ability, if he stays and keeps recruiting, anything is possible.

Source: TNT Sports

__

Jack Wilshere on Eze’s missed penalty…

People will be wondering why he did the run-up like that, but that’s part of his process and he would’ve practised taking them that way. He’s probably scored the last 10 he’s taken in training, but this is different. I’ve never taken one in a Champions League final, but I can just imagine the pressure. It’s tough for him, he will be devastated.

Source: TNT Sports

Martin Keown on what Arsenal do next…

Arsenal will be back bigger, better and stronger. They’ll be in the transfer market, and this is just the start for Arteta, with the confidence of winning a Premier League. They were just one penalty kick away from becoming European champions, so I think that’s a great place to build from. This will have really whetted the appetite of Josh Kroenke, watching him give out the medals. Thinking of all the fans out in Africa, we know this is a huge football club and they’ve gone toe-to-toe with the best in the world. Arsenal will build upon this, maybe the attractive football will come back, the focus will always be on trying to win.

Source: TNT Sports