Former Barcelona star, Gary Lineker, has ignored Arsenal as he names the three best teams in Europe this season.
He commended Gunners for their achievement in reaching the Champions League final, but insisted that PSG’s victory in the penalty shootout represented a ‘triumph for football’.
The Gunners were striving to secure their first Champions League title in Budapest on Saturday night, aiming to complete a remarkable double after winning the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s team took an early advantage with a goal from Kai Havertz, but a penalty from Ousmane Dembele in the second half led the Champions League final into extra time and subsequently to penalties.
PSG managed the pressure more effectively during the shootout, as both Eberechi Eze and Gabriel failed to score, resulting in a painful defeat for Arsenal.
There has been considerable discussion regarding Mikel Arteta’s defensive strategies, not only in the final but throughout the season, and Lineker contends that this approach was essential for Arsenal to compete against the back-to-back champions, PSG.
However, Lineker views the result as a ‘favourable outcome for football’ and asserts that PSG was one of three teams that performed at a higher level than Arsenal in Europe this season.
“It was certainly disappointing for Arsenal, but I believe the best team in the tournament has emerged victorious once more,” the former England striker stated on The Rest is Football podcast.
“From a fan’s perspective, without any personal stake in the game, I think Arsenal had to adopt that style of play, as they would not have been able to defeat PSG otherwise. Yet, I also believe that football has triumphed.
“I recognize that there are various styles of play, and there is nothing inherently wrong with a defensive approach. However, football is also about entertainment, and fans desire to witness teams that are positive, creative, and showcase their best players while playing beautiful football.
“In my opinion, this season, those three teams have been PSG, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona.”