"They are not invincible." That's William Saliba's verdict on the team that just beat Arsenal in the Champions League final — and it's the most interesting thing any Gunner has said since the final whistle.
The French centre-back spoke to France Football with the kind of honesty you rarely get after a penalty shootout defeat. He acknowledges PSG are the best team in Europe right now. He just refuses to let that sit as the full story.
The moment that changed the final
Saliba's frustration isn't just about losing. It's about the specific sequence that unraveled Arsenal's night. The Gunners opened the scoring, had a chance to make it 2-0 just before half-time, didn't take it, then conceded a penalty that leveled things up. From there, it went to a shootout — always a coin flip.
That near-miss before the break is what Saliba keeps coming back to. "If that had happened, would they also have reprimanded us?" he asked, taking aim at the media criticism Arsenal absorbed throughout the tournament. It's a fair point. A team that reaches the Champions League final and takes the lead doesn't deserve to be written off, however pragmatic their route there was.
The 25-year-old also pushed back on the broader narrative that Arsenal were lucky to be there. They weren't. They were the Premier League champions. They ground their way through Europe the same way they ground their way through an entire domestic season.
What comes next for both clubs
Arsenal celebrated their league title with a parade through London the day after the final. That softens the blow slightly — but only slightly. Losing a Champions League final on penalties, having led, will stay with this squad.
PSG, meanwhile, are now chasing three consecutive Champions League titles. Their president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has made no secret of that ambition, and neither have the players. Very few clubs in European history have managed the treble of consecutive wins, which makes their odds next season worth watching closely — though Arsenal's title chances in both competitions will depend heavily on whether they strengthen in this window.
Saliba's message to PSG is essentially: enjoy it while it lasts. Arsenal are coming back.
