Mikel Arteta may have already confirmed Arsenal's first transfer with telling PSG decision

Arsenal's Champions League semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain has left Mikel Arteta facing intense pressure ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Gunners lost 3-1 on aggregate to the French giants, falling short in Paris on Wednesday night. It means the club will go five years without lifting a trophy, sparking concerns over their chances of being successful.

A big talking point from the European exit was the lack of clinical edge throughout both games. The presence of a centre-forward was missing throughout the contest, while PSG's Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia all impressed.

According to The xG Philosophy on X, formerly Twitter, Arsenal managed a higher xG (5.11) than PSG (3.08) over the two legs. After starting Gabriel Martinelli, Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka in attack, Mikel Arteta turned only to Leandro Trossard to improve things from the bench, leaving highly-rated teenager Ethan Nwaneri off the pitch.

There was also no time given to Raheem Sterling. The forward is currently on loan at the Emirates Stadium from London rivals Chelsea after arriving on deadline day last summer.

He has played 27 times this season, starting just 12, scoring one goal and assisting only five. After moving to Stamford Bridge for £47.5million in 2022, Sterling moved to the Gunners looking to reignite his career, but it hasn't played out.

There was no option or obligation for a permanent move to the Gunners at the end of the season and any chance of him staying at the club beyond this campaign seem null. Sterling was unused in both PSG games as well as the second leg win over Real Madrid.

On Wednesday, when Arsenal needed something in the final third to keep their season alive, Arteta decided against utilising Sterling. His call points towards no surprise permanent move meaning Arsenal are expected to look at signing a different wide forward in the summer.

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