Martin Keown believes that Arsenal’s failure to secure a proper centre-forward ultimately cost them a place in the Champions League final, following their heartbreaking exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

The Gunners arrived in Paris knowing only a victory could keep their hopes alive, after losing the first leg 1-0. However, despite a determined performance, they were unable to overcome their French hosts, who secured a 2-1 victory on the night and a 3-1 aggregate win to set up a final showdown with Inter Milan later this month.

Arsenal started the match with urgency, but were unfortunate to fall behind after a stunning strike from Fabian Ruiz left David Raya with no chance. Bukayo Saka’s response kept Arsenal in the game, but PSG doubled their advantage, and despite a valiant effort, Arsenal's fairytale comeback never materialised. Consequently, the Gunners will finish the season without a trophy.

Looking ahead, another major summer transfer window looms for Arsenal, especially after they chose not to sign a new centre-forward in January, despite the injury absences of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. While a new striker is expected to be brought in before the 2025-26 season, Keown identified this as the crucial factor behind Arsenal’s failure to reach the final.

"You have to hold your hands up to PSG," Keown remarked after the match. "Hakimi, what a player he is. Arsenal can be proud of their efforts this season, particularly in our second year back in the Champions League. But the lack of a proper centre-forward caught up with us – especially with two of them missing tonight."

"For PSG, they were without Neymar, Messi, and Mbappé – all gone – yet they are now a complete side. I’ve never seen forwards work so hard. How do you beat them? PSG must now be the hot favourites to win the competition. You have to give them credit."

Despite the defeat, Mikel Arteta remained upbeat and, after offering his congratulations to PSG, insisted that no team had performed better than Arsenal in the Champions League this season. When asked if he felt Arsenal deserved to progress, he said: "100 per cent. I don’t think there’s been a better team in the competition, from what I have seen, but we are out. This competition is about delivering in both boxes, and in both of those – strikers and goalkeepers – PSG were superior."

"I am incredibly proud of the players. They deserve a lot of credit for what they have achieved, especially given the context of the situation and the injuries we’ve faced – it’s probably the worst state you could arrive in as a team. To come here with all those challenges and still perform as they did gives me a lot of positives for the future, but tonight I am very upset."