There are plenty of people revelling in Arsenal’s misery after Champions League final defeat, but Gunners hero Perry Groves is not happy about it.
Mikel Arteta so nearly became the first Arsenal manager to win the Champions League, but his team were beaten on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday night.
The match finished 1-1 after an early Kai Havertz strike was cancelled out by a second half Ousmane Dembele penalty.
Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes missed their spot-kicks in the shootout, with the Brazilian firing over the bar sparking delirious celebrations for PSG.
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It was heartbreak for Arsenal, but some of their rivals did not hide how happy they were about the result.
TalkSPORT hosts Gabby Agbonlahor and Jason Cundy were delighted, with former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor saying: ‘You know what won today? Football won.
‘Sitting back, parking the bus, defensive tactics. Football won. PSG by far the better team, especially second half.
‘Arsenal stunk out the Premier League to win it and they tried to stink out the Champions League and they failed. You don’t deserve to win the Champions League playing like that.’
Former Chelsea player Cundy added: ‘They are the biggest failures in Europe, their records in Europe stinks.
‘Here’s the truth, you deserve to win the Premier League, you didn’t deserve to win the Champions League.’
Groves, who won two First Division titles with Arsenal, joined the show and was offered commiserations, but was not ready to take them.
‘I don’t want your commiserations,’ said the 61-year-old. ‘Stick your commiserations where the sun don’t shine. I don’t want your hollow words. Stick it.
‘You’re pleased. It’s a weird thing, I don’t get people taking great pleasure from other people’s misfortunes.
‘I was brought up to want to be successful myself and reach my goals, but if someone else is successful then be pleased for them.’
Groves did admit that he doesn’t stick to that philosophy entirely, saying he would have left the country if Tottenham had won the 2019 Champions League final.
‘The only caveat to that is that mob up the road, Spurs, because if they’d have won it in 2019 I’d have emigrated, I’d have gone to Sydney with my boy,’ he said.
‘But other than that…you’d rather a French team beats an English team! I don’t get it. It just shows how shallow you are.
‘I want an English team to do well. I don’t hate. That’s the difference. How energy sapping is that? It’s very shallow.’
Groves also defended the style of play Arsenal produced in the final, with PSG ending the game with 75.3 per cent possession.
‘It’s elite sport! If it turns basketball, PSG win. Everybody knows, because they’ve got better forwards,’ he said. ‘You have to try and find a way.’
Rival clubs were also quick to stick the knife into Arsenal, with Chelsea posting pictures of their own successes immediately after the Gunners’ defeat.
The Blues posted: ‘Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. 🏆
‘Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now. ⭐️⭐️’
However, they added shortly after: ‘We probably deserve another red card for that last post! But in all seriousness, congratulations to @Arsenal
on winning the Premier League and a great run in the Champions League.
‘Looking forward to picking up the battle again with you next season.’