"We lacked that and it needs to be fixed" – Martin Keown Reveals What Arsenal Lacked in Crushing PSG Exit
Former Arsenal defender says Gunners’ Champions League dream fell short due to lack of cutting edge up front and hints at big summer signings to fix it.
Arsenal’s Champions League dream ended in bitter disappointment as Mikel Arteta’s side were knocked out in the semi-finals by Paris Saint-Germain. Despite dominating spells of both legs, the Gunners fell 3-1 on aggregate to a clinical PSG outfit.
Former Arsenal defender and pundit Martin Keown believes the team’s downfall came down to a lack of cutting edge in front of goal — not tactics or effort.
“I think the tactics were perfect. It was just in the final third where you need a fox-in-the-box,” Keown said on TNT Sports. “We didn’t have the same weapons to hurt them and that’s where the change will come — big recruitment will come in the summer.”
Over the two legs, Arsenal showed plenty of fight, energy, and intent. They created more chances than PSG in both fixtures but were punished for not taking them.
According to stats from FBref, Arsenal had more shots on target (5 to PSG’s 2) in the second leg and nearly 3.0 expected goals (xG), yet they came away with just one goal — Bukayo Saka’s equaliser in the first half in Paris.
Despite trailing in possession (PSG had 65% to Arsenal’s 35%), the Gunners matched the French champions for most of the contest and even outpassed them in dangerous areas during key moments.
Yet PSG, led by the ruthless finishing of Fabián Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi, made their limited chances count — striking once in each half in the second leg to kill off the tie.
Arsenal’s defeat wasn’t just about missed shots — individual lapses played a part too. Thomas Partey was involved in both PSG goals, failing to track back in time and losing the ball in critical midfield areas.
Even their most reliable performers — including captain Martin Ødegaard and Leandro Trossard — were guilty of missed chances that could have changed the course of the game.
Arsenal registered over 2.7 xG on the night, the highest PSG had conceded all season — highlighting just how close Arteta’s side were to turning the tie around.
Keown’s post-match verdict echoed the frustrations of many Arsenal fans. The former centre-back praised the team’s setup but emphasised the lack of a natural striker as the key issue.
“You need that fox-in-the-box — a proper number nine who lives for goals. That’s what Arsenal lacked tonight and that’s what has to be fixed,” he added on TNT Sports.
The Gunners have been linked with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Brentford’s Ivan Toney as potential summer targets, with both forwards seen as clinical finishers capable of leading the line at the top level.
Despite the disappointment, there are still positives for Mikel Arteta’s side. This was Arsenal’s first Champions League semi-final since 2009 and they matched one of Europe’s most dangerous teams for long stretches.
Arteta and midfielder Declan Rice both spoke post-match about the need to learn from the pain and come back stronger.
“We should not be out — we were better for long periods in both games,” Arteta told TNT Sports.
“This hurts, but this team is going to come back,” added Rice in his interview with TNT.
Arsenal’s season may not end with European glory, but Keown’s analysis offers a clear blueprint for progress: get a killer in the box, and the trophies will follow.
