Thierry Henry’s Arsenal message should worry Mikel Arteta after PSG defeat

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Arsenal’s dream of winning the Champions League is over for another season, as the Gunners crashed out in the semi-final.

After Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal 1-0 at the Emirates in the first leg, Luis Enrique’s side ensured they got the job done at the Parc des Princes. 

Despite the Gunners’ early dominance, it was PSG who won the game on the night, progressing to meet Inter Milan in the Champions League final with a 3-1 aggregate win. 

It’s another trophyless season for Arsenal under Arteta, whose only goal will be to secure second place in the Premier League. 

• READ MORE: Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber shine in vain but there’s a 3/10 in the Arsenal player ratings vs PSG

Thierry Henry had higher expectations for Arsenal 

If there’s one person qualified to talk about Arsenal’s heartbreak in the Champions League, it’s Thierry Henry. 

Henry played in the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona, a fixture that the Gunners lost in the dying embers. 

Speaking on CBS Sports’ coverage of the game at the Parc des Princes, the Arsenal legend shared his verdict on the 2024/25 campaign for his former side, reflecting on the defeat to PSG. 

“At the beginning of the season, second was expected, it’s almost expected at Arsenal with what the club and Mikel have been doing over the past two or three years,” Henry said.

Arsenal’s record goalscorer went on to admit that despite Arteta’s growing project, he expected at least one trophy to mark the season with. 

“But this year, the expectation was, for me, a trophy,” he concluded.

Liverpool took hold of the Premier League, while Arsenal crashed out of the Carabao Cup to Newcastle United, the FA Cup to Manchester United and finally, the Champions League to PSG.

Being over five years into his project, patience is running thin regarding the Gunners’ claim to silverware, as Arsenal were taught a footballing lesson by PSG.

Failure to prepare for the season was decisive for Arsenal 

After registering themselves as challengers for the Premier League title in 2022/23, Arsenal improved into a defensive powerhouse over the 2023/24 calendar.

This year, however, it’s clear that Arsenal have regressed, which can’t be put down to much else other than the recruitment in the summer transfer window, and lack of in January. 

It was clear last term that the squad was missing attacking prowess, which, for some reason, led Arteta and former sporting director Edu Gaspar to welcome just one forward in the summer.

The forward in question was Raheem Sterling, a player unwanted by Chelsea and a figure that Arteta hasn’t trusted enough to call upon this season.

Failing to prepare in the transfer windows has cost Arsenal silverware this campaign, giving Andrea Berta a hefty task in the upcoming summer market.