Ferguson's Scathing Verdict: Arsenal's Defensive Masterclass Labelled 'Boring' After PSG Shootout Loss

Sir Alex Ferguson has weighed in with a withering assessment of Arsenal's Champions League final performance, reportedly firing off a text to PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi that pulled no punches about the Gunners' approach to Saturday's encounter.

The match saw Arsenal take an early lead through Kai Havertz in the opening period, before retreating into a defensive shell for the remainder of the contest. The strategy proved ultimately futile as the French champions eventually levelled through Ousmane Dembele's penalty conversion midway through the second half, following Cristhian Mosquera's foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

After 120 minutes produced no winner, the tie went to penalties. Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes both failed from the spot as PSG claimed a 4-3 shoot-out victory.

The Manchester United legend was far from impressed by Arsenal's execution, particularly their possession statistics—the Gunners mustered less than 25 per cent of the ball across the full match. According to French outlet L'Equipe, Ferguson's congratulatory message to Al-Khelaifi read: "Nasser, this is Alex Ferguson. Well done, it was a tough night for you, but you played against a boring team that did nothing but defend. Enjoy your holidays, you deserve it."

Burley Echoes Ferguson's Critique

Former Scotland international Craig Burley has similarly criticised Mikel Arteta's tactical setup on ESPN, arguing Arsenal should never have committed so thoroughly to containment.

"When they scored after six minutes, they tried to defend their way to the 90th minute," Burley explained. "Had PSG scored first, they'd have carried on attacking and probing to win the game. That's the fundamental difference between these two sides' mentality."

He continued: "Arsenal regressed into trying to defend their way through 84 minutes plus added time. That's incredibly difficult to sustain. PSG, even without playing their best football, were clearly the superior side."

Burley reserved particular scorn for Arsenal's approach to set-pieces, adding: "Three times from a kick-off they've launched it forward like a rugby match. That's embarrassing. That's 1980s football being wheeled back out. It really is."

Nasri Points Finger at Referee

Former Arsenal attacking midfielder Samir Nasri has offered a different perspective, suggesting the officials' handling of the match was shaped by Arsenal's first-half time-wasting.

Speaking on Canal+'s Late Football Club, Nasri stated: "In the second period, the referee systematically whistled against Arsenal. He punished them for their time-wasting in the first half."