Arsenal legend Martin Keown has insisted “there is more to come” from the Gunners after losing the Champions League final on penalties to PSG.
Arsenal were level against the European champions after extra time, but lost on spot-kicks 4-3, after Eberechi Eze and Gabriel missed the target.
Keown believes the pain of this loss will motivate Arsenal to compete in the Champions League next season.
“It’s interesting how quickly they have learned under this manager. He talks about the hurt and pain, and that gives the team oxygen.
“Look at the support they’re getting. These Arsenal fans, they know they’re at the start of something special.
“There’s a lot more for this team to come. They’ve just got to use that energy, that hurt, in next year’s competition,” Keown told TNT Sports.
The Gunners took the lead thanks to a brilliant finish by Kai Havertz, but were pegged back in the second half after Ousmane Dembele converted from 12 yards.
Gabriel took the fifth and deciding penalty of the shootout, blasting his effort over the bar to set off the PSG celebrations.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown insisted ‘there is more to come’ from the Gunners
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Commenting on Gabriel, Keown said: “He’s my favourite Arsenal player. I’ve watched him all season. I take a lot of joy in what he does.
“He doesn’t have to be ashamed of anything that he’s done tonight. He had the bottle to go up there and take it.
“Okay, he missed it, but he was magnificent in the game. He’s been a real leader for Arsenal.
“Eze as well, another player that you just love watching.”
Keown praised Gabriel for having ‘the bottle to go up there and take it’
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It was only Arsenal’s second time in the Champions League final, after losing to Barcelona in 2006.
Another former Gunner, Jack Wilshere, insisted that he anticipates Arsenal to be back on the grandest stage of all soon.
Wilshere said: “It’ll take a while [to get over], but I’m pretty sure it’s not going to take another 20 years to get to a final with this team, with Mikel in charge.
“Yes, it hurts right now, and you can see the players will be devastated, but when you look at the history and what [Manchester] City had to do to win it, they had to lose in the final. Sometimes you have to feel that.”
Eze missed the target with his spot-kick
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Arsenal will celebrate their Premier League triumph this afternoon with an open-top bus parade.
The Gunners won their first title earlier this month, lifting the trophy at Selhurst Park after their victory against Crystal Palace.
Manchester City’s draw against Bournemouth confirmed the league title for Arsenal on what has been an incredibly successful season, despite defeat to PSG.
