By Ghazali Ibrahim
Arsenal set an unwanted UEFA Champions League record on Saturday after losing the 2026 final to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, Hungary.
The Gunners were beaten 4-3 on penalties by the French champions after both sides played out a 1-1 draw following extra time.
Kai Havertz gave Arsenal the lead during regular time before Ousmane Dembele restored parity for PSG, forcing the match into extra time and eventually a penalty shootout.
According to football statistics platform Opta, Arsenal have now played more UEFA Champions League matches without winning the competition than any other club in the tournament’s history. The North London side has featured in 226 Champions League games but is yet to lift the trophy.
The latest setback adds to Arsenal’s heartbreak in the competition, having previously lost the 2006 final to Barcelona before suffering another final defeat this year.
Opta also revealed that Arsenal recorded just 24.7 per cent possession in the final — the lowest possession figure by any team in a Champions League final since records began in the 2003/04 season. It was also the lowest possession percentage recorded by a Mikel Arteta-managed Arsenal side in a match where they played with 11 men throughout.
The defeat denied Arsenal a first-ever Champions League title, while PSG successfully retained the European crown.
