Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has called on Mikel Arteta to consider moving on from Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres following the Gunners’ heartbreaking Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The north London side saw their dreams of lifting the European crown for the first time dashed in a penalty shootout in Budapest, with PSG prevailing 4-3 from the spot after a 1-1 draw across 120 minutes.
Arteta’s men initially took control when Havertz opened the scoring, but Ousmane Dembele leveled from the penalty spot in the second half. The match remained deadlocked through extra time, leading to a dramatic shootout where Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both missed from 12 yards, handing PSG the title and their second consecutive Champions League triumph.
In the aftermath, Keown, speaking on TNT Sports, pinpointed the forward line as a key area for improvement. “They may reconsider their options at striker,” he said. “Kai Havertz completed 90 minutes tonight, but this marks only his second full match in 18 months. For Viktor Gyokeres, it was a challenging evening, so that could be a position Arsenal might evaluate. Perhaps they should also consider the left-wing. Mikel Arteta will need to assess these options closely.”
Havertz, who scored his second Champions League final goal against PSG, has struggled with fitness throughout the campaign, making just seven league starts. Meanwhile, £64 million summer signing Gyokeres endured an inconsistent debut season and was omitted from the squad for the club’s most crucial match of the year.
Despite the painful defeat, Arsenal are set to celebrate their first Premier League title since 2004 with a trophy parade in north London on Sunday. Arteta has indicated he will take a short break before turning his attention to the summer transfer window, with the club expected to provide significant funds for reinforcements. Keown’s comments suggest that a new striker and possibly a left-winger should be high on the priority list as Arteta looks to build on a season that ended with domestic glory but European heartbreak.