Former Premier League striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has urged Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to be modest in defeat. The comment came following the Gunners’ UEFA Champions League elimination to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.
Following a 1-0 home loss in the first leg last week, Arteta’s side needed to win at the Parc des Princes to progress to their first Champions League final since 2006. Instead, the hosts doubled their aggregate advantage through Fabian Ruiz in the 27th minute before Achraf Hakimi ended the game as a contest 18 minutes from time.
Although Bukayo Saka bagged the Gunners’ only goal of the tie four minutes later, it was too little too late as Luis Enrique’s side booked a final showdown with Inter Milan.
Analysing Arteta’s post-match reaction, Agbonlahor told talkSPORT (via GOAL):
The Gunners are set to end another season without major silverware, while the Parisians move on to a Champions League final with Inter Milan in Munich on May 31.
Arsenal have had another decent season. Despite reaching their first UEFA Champions League semi-final in nearly two decades, the Gunners fell short against Ligue 1 champions PSG.
However, there’s little time to dwell on that defeat, as they turn their attention to a trip to Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday (May 11). Arteta’s side are coming off a 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth in their previous league outing.
Following the Liverpool clash, the Gunners host Newcastle United on May 18 before ending their season with a trip to Southampton seven days later. Arteta’s side are second in the standings and look good to seal a third-straight top-2 league finish.
However, unlike last season, the title race this campaign ended long before the final day, with the Gunners not winning the top flight since their historic ‘Invincibles’ triumph under Arsene Wenger in 2004.
Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.
Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.
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