Former Brentford and Leeds United defender Sam Sodje during an exclusive interview with Footy-Africa defended Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta following the Gunners’ painful defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final.
Arsenal’s quest for European glory ended in heartbreak in Budapest on Saturday as PSG retained the title they won last season. The final finished 1-1 after 120 minutes, but the French champions prevailed in the penalty shootout after Arsenal missed two spot-kicks.
Eberechi Eze fired wide, while Gabriel’s effort sailed over the bar. Although David Raya produced a crucial save to deny Nuno Mendes, it was not enough to prevent defeat.
Leading at the break with more battles to be won.
Let’s keep showing what we’re made of, Gunners 💪 pic.twitter.com/qcUwk5Ycvj
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 30, 2026
Despite the disappointment, Sodje believes Arsenal can hold their heads high after reaching the final unbeaten and pushing one of Europe’s strongest sides all the way.
“Arsenal did well, but ultimately, the best team won,” Sodje told Footy-Africa. “They came with a game plan, but it just wasn’t their day. Anyone who understands the technical side of football knows Arsenal did the best they could. It’s unlucky they couldn’t win, but the superior team took the victory.”
Arsenal’s average possession of 24.7% was the lowest recorded by a team in a Champions League final since Opta began collecting the statistic in the 2003-04 season. It was also the lowest possession figure recorded by an Arteta side in a match where Arsenal had 11 players on the pitch throughout.
Arteta faced criticism from some quarters for his cautious approach, but Sodje argued that the tactics were instrumental in keeping Arsenal competitive for so long.
“They played to their full potential. You can only play according to the squad you have. Fans who don’t understand the tactical side might think they should have played differently, but if Arsenal had opened up, they would have been beaten 4-0.”
“Mikel Arteta got the absolute best out of his players. They reached the final unbeaten and defended brilliantly. They simply don’t have the profile of players to pass opponents off the park like a team like PSG can.”
While Arsenal fell short in their pursuit of a first Champions League title, Sodje believes the club has laid strong foundations for future success. However, he says further investment in technically gifted players will be needed to add greater variety to the team’s attacking play.
“Looking ahead to next season, we have to credit Arteta. He was tasked with winning the league and built a specific system to achieve that. Now that they are champions, he may evolve the system toward more explosive, attacking football.”
“That will require a different profile of player. It took the club over two decades to win the league again and years to reach this final; Arteta found a formula that wins matches, and we have to respect that. Next year, as defending champions, they will need to break teams down, which means recruiting players who can create more chances.”
Arsenal were one of three English clubs to reach a major UEFA final this season, alongside Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, who won the Europa League and Europa Conference League respectively.
ENCORE 🏆 pic.twitter.com/qFHVD14qXS
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) May 30, 2026
Although Arsenal narrowly missed out on Champions League success, Sodje believes English football enjoyed another highly successful campaign on the European stage:
“Finally, credit must go to the FA. Living in London, I’m glad to see this success because it’s the direct result of massive investment. They invest heavily in grassroots football, as well as both the men’s and women’s games. You reap what you sow, and other countries should learn from the UK’s model. Because of this sustained investment, English football will likely continue to dominate.”
