Arsenal fell to Paris Saint‑Germain in a penalty shoot‑out on Saturday in Budapest,after a match in which they held just 25% of the ball and produced only one shot on target. French newspaper L'Equipe seized on the performance, accusing manager Mikel Arteta of parking a defensive ‘double‑decker bus’ and abandoning his attacking philosophy.

Arsenal’s 25% possession and single shot on target

The Gunners managed a mere quarter of the game’s possession and mustered only one on‑target effort – Kai Havertz’s sixth‑minute strike – according to L'Equipe’s match report. The publication argued that such statistics make it hard to justify a claim of European dominance when the team spent most of the night in a low‑block.

L'Equipe’s six player ratings of five or lower

In its famously harsh post‑match grading, L'Equipe handed Arsenal six players a rating of five or below, with Leandro Trossard and Cristian Mosquera receiving the lowest scores of three out of ten. trossard was described as “anonymous and isolated,” while Mosquera was blamed for the penalty that sparked PSG’s comeback.

Arteta’s rejected Barcelona legacy claim

The French daily went further, suggesting Arteta had turned his back on the attacking legacy he cultiavted at Barcelona, opting instead for a rigid defensive shape that stifled his own talents like Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard. the paper noted that Arteta’s tactical shift left his star players “sacrificed” on the defensive front.

Penalty shoot‑out decides 4‑3 PSG victory

After Ousmane Dembélé’s equalising spot‑kick,the match went to penalties where PSG edged Arsenal 4‑3.. arsenal missed twice – Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both failed to convert – while Declan Rice and Havertz were the highest‑rated Gunners with six out of ten.

Open questions: Who will Arteta trust in future finals?

L'Equipe’s analysis leaves two key uncertainties: whether Arteta will revert to a more attacking setup for upcoming European fixtures, and how the club will address the defensive frailties that saw him lose the ball 13 times and win only two of six duels, as highlighted by the French outlet.

According to the report, Arsenal’s squad appeared glum leaving their Budapest hotel, but the team is set to parade their Premier League trophy around Islington on Sunday, offering a brief respiite from the Champions League disappointment.