Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been blasted over his tactics after Paris Saint-Germain claimed victory in the Champions League final on penalties in Budapest.
The Gunners got off to a flying start when Kai Havertz found the net with a brilliant finish from a tight angle just six minutes in.
But that early joy turned to heartbreak as Ousmane Dembele converted from the spot after the break to level things up.
The match couldn't be settled in normal or extra time, sending both sides to a shootout.
Mikel Arteta has been criticised over his tactics in the Champions League final
|REUTERS
It all came down to Gabriel, whose penalty sailed over the crossbar, handing PSG their second consecutive European crown.
For Arsenal, it was a gut-wrenching end to their first Champions League final appearance since 2006.
Perhaps the most damning statistic from the night was Arsenal's possession figure – a mere 24.7 per cent of the ball.
It's a record nobody wants, marking the lowest possession by any side in a Champions League final since records began in 2003/04.
What makes it even more striking is that Arsenal actually broke their own previous low from that 2006 defeat to Barcelona.
Back then, though, the Gunners had a genuine excuse – they played with ten men for over 70 minutes after Jens Lehmann's red card.
Gabriel missed in the penalty shootout as PSG beat Arsenal to win the Champions League | GETTYThis time, Arteta had a full squad available, yet his side still chose to retreat into their shell after taking the lead.
The approach was clear: score early, then defend for the remaining 84 minutes plus stoppage time.
Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley didn't hold back when assessing Arsenal's game plan on ESPN.
"Let's lay it out on the table, when they scored after six minutes, they tried to defend their way to the 90th minute," he said.
Burley pointed out the stark contrast between the two sides, noting that PSG would have continued attacking and probing had they scored first.
But it was Arsenal's kick-off routine that really got under his skin.
"Three times from a kick-off they've lobbed it forward like it was a game of rugby," Burley added. "That's embarrassing. That's 1980s football back in England. It really is."
He acknowledged Arsenal's valiant effort but insisted PSG were "by far the better of these two sides" even without playing their best.
Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his players and staff after full-time after Arsenal took PSG to penalties
|REUTERS
Despite the heartbreak, Arteta struck a grateful tone in his post-match press conference.
"What I said to the players and the staff is that if I tell them one million times 'thank you', it's not going to be enough," the Spaniard reflected.
He insisted his gratitude wasn't simply about winning the Premier League or reaching two cup finals this season.
"It's because of the joy and the moments that we have lived together every single day and that's above anything else," Arteta added.
Even Joao Neves took a swipe at Arsenal, saying: 'PSG were the only team that wanted to play'
| GETTYWhen asked about learning from PSG, he acknowledged their individual quality while noting Arsenal need to improve squad availability throughout the campaign.
The Gunners will now dust themselves off for an open-top bus parade on Sunday to celebrate their first league title in 22 years.