Arsenal progress under Arteta is clear but flaws still remain for the ultimate glory

Penalty misses from pre-season were repeated in Budapest while summer signings could help Gunners exert more control in biggest games

When it was finally over – on the night and for the club season, devastation the overriding emotion for everyone connected to Arsenal – Declan Rice wanted to go back to make the point. To last July and his club’s first pre-season game, against Milan in Singapore.

Arsenal won 1-0 before the teams agreed to stage a penalty shootout. The idea was clear: to practise in front of a crowd because you just cannot replicate this particular aspect of the game on the training ground. Arsenal lost.