While XG is an imperfect metric, the difference between finishing was wild.
Arsenal XG 5.11 (1 goal) PSG 3.08 (3 goals).
At risk of labouring the point:
Dembele goal (0.07 XG), Ruiz goal (0.04 XG), Hakimi goal (0.07 XG).
Ultimately, we didn't take our chances anywhere close to the way they did (the Saka and Rice misses in the 2nd league really stand out).
Watching PSG score the way they did felt like an experienced FIFA player vs an average one.
This was also amplified with luck with injuries (as alluded to above) - they weren't missing any key players. We were missing several, and of our starting 11 you could see how wrecked they were.
BBC Sport pointed out that last summer was a PSR summer, and that coming into this window we're looking at a significant spend opportunity because of this.
The exit door is going to need repainting after this summer. Jorginho, Tierney, Partey all gone on free's. Hein, Tavares, Veira, Lokonga, Nelson, Marquinhos all hopefully finally gone (still on our books as loan deals, likely not 100% of salary being covered). Sterling and Neto back to their parent clubs. Other candidates for sale (assuming we hold on to our big names); Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Zincheko, Jesus, Trossard. While we could offer Partey a contract extension, and do the same with Trossard or let him go on a free in 2026, I hope we're ruthless and take the opportunity to upgrade significantly.
I think what's flown under the radar is the significant upgrade we've had in sporting director. When you put Edu's history as a player aside, he's time at club level as a sporting director has been limited, and his track record of selling with us was poor and his buying was a collection of hits and misses. Andrea Berta has done incredible deals at his time at Atletico (both buying and selling), and managing a fairly difficult manager with high expectations.
It's a third year of 'nearly', but I think we'll have a very different team for 2025/2026 which will be the difference.
Arsenal XG 5.11 (1 goal) PSG 3.08 (3 goals).
At risk of labouring the point:
Dembele goal (0.07 XG), Ruiz goal (0.04 XG), Hakimi goal (0.07 XG).
Ultimately, we didn't take our chances anywhere close to the way they did (the Saka and Rice misses in the 2nd league really stand out).
Watching PSG score the way they did felt like an experienced FIFA player vs an average one.
This was also amplified with luck with injuries (as alluded to above) - they weren't missing any key players. We were missing several, and of our starting 11 you could see how wrecked they were.
BBC Sport pointed out that last summer was a PSR summer, and that coming into this window we're looking at a significant spend opportunity because of this.
The exit door is going to need repainting after this summer. Jorginho, Tierney, Partey all gone on free's. Hein, Tavares, Veira, Lokonga, Nelson, Marquinhos all hopefully finally gone (still on our books as loan deals, likely not 100% of salary being covered). Sterling and Neto back to their parent clubs. Other candidates for sale (assuming we hold on to our big names); Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Zincheko, Jesus, Trossard. While we could offer Partey a contract extension, and do the same with Trossard or let him go on a free in 2026, I hope we're ruthless and take the opportunity to upgrade significantly.
I think what's flown under the radar is the significant upgrade we've had in sporting director. When you put Edu's history as a player aside, he's time at club level as a sporting director has been limited, and his track record of selling with us was poor and his buying was a collection of hits and misses. Andrea Berta has done incredible deals at his time at Atletico (both buying and selling), and managing a fairly difficult manager with high expectations.
It's a third year of 'nearly', but I think we'll have a very different team for 2025/2026 which will be the difference.