Sports
Trust creative players more or get even better at what Arsenal do?
June 2, 2026
Source: Yahoo Sports · Read on source site
[Getty Images]Watch the panel on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club discuss what Arsenal can do next to develop and evolve after they just came up short in the Champions League final against Paris St-Germain.
>"They added quality last summer," said The Athletic's Adam Crafton.
>"In some ways it was more depth than quality but any team in the Premier League would have wanted Eberechi Eze. I just wonder whether Mikel Arteta actually wants to develop the team in that way or whether he just wants to make them even better at what they do at the moment.
>"I think if he did then much of this past season you would have seen Martin Odegaard and Eze starting together. I'm not sure it's as simple as just going and buying some flair to improve Arsenal."
>Premier League winning striker Chris Sutton said: "I don't think you can keep giving the ball back to a team of PSG's quality.
>"We know Arsenal are brilliant at defending the box and that's what Arteta gave away. There wasn't really a time when PSG got in behind Arsenal but eventually there does come a time where you trust your players with quality whether they are being pressed or not.
>"Arsenal didn't want to risk, which is why moving forward I think it is something Arteta will have to think about."
>Ex-Premier League defender Conor Coady said: "That squad is full of quality. You can evolve that team with that group of players. If there was an opportunity to get a left-hand sided player I think they would do.
>"We are at a moment now where they have the quality in that group to go to a different level if they are willing to do so."
>Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds
[BBC][BBC]