Gary Lineker gives brutal Arsenal verdict after Joao Neves dig at Champions League final

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Gary Lineker has become the latest football pundit to lay into Arsenal's defensive approach following their Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The Gunners fell short in their bid to lift the European trophy for the first time, losing on penalties to holders PSG in Budapest.

However, Mikel Arteta's side have faced a backlash over the manner in which they set up after taking an early lead through Kai Havertz. Luis Enrique's side had 17 shots to Arsenal's seven, with an xG (expected goals) of 1.77 to 0.44, the Gunners only managed to make 285 attempted passes compared to PSG's 889.

Lineker believes PSG's triumph was a 'victory for positive football over negative football'. Opening up on the Rest is Football podcast, he said: "It was obviously disappointing for Arsenal [that] they missed out on penalties, and we'll come to that. I think overall, probably - well, I think definitely - the best team have won the tournament again."

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The former Match of the Day host went on to add: "[Arsenal] do defend very well. Looking at the game as a fan, with no skin in the game other than that I do genuinely like to see the Premier League teams win, and I think that would have been great. We've obviously won the other two European competitions.

"I would say that Arsenal had to play that way. I don't think that they probably could have beaten them if they'd played expansive football - entertaining football. But at the same time, I would say that probably football won, though.

"I know that there are different ways to play football, and you can play defensively, but ultimately football is a sport, it's an entertainment, and we want to see teams that are really positive, really creative, have the best players and play wonderful football. And I think this season, those three teams in Bayern Munich , PSG and Barcelona , I think our sides have struggled a bit in terms of that side of the game.

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"And Arsenal are brilliant defensively. If they'd have held on and not given away that penalty, PSG didn't create much because Arsenal are so well organised in the structure and the manner of play like you said, I just think as a complete neutral, I would say it's a victory for positive football over negative football.

"I saw similarities between Arsenal's final appearance to England against Italy in the Euros at Wembley, I saw similarities of when England played Croatia in the semi-final in the 2018 World Cup in Russia . So I saw similarities there where you score early and think 'oooff'.

"They probably would have played the same way anyway, but I think the fact that they did get that early goal and you've got something to hold onto made them even more determined to play in a defensive manner.

"But as a forward, as someone who likes 'the beautiful game', I just love to see attacking football, and I think in terms of the way the sport should be played, the best team won."

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Lineker's remarks follow PSG star Joao Neves' insistence that his side were the 'only team that wanted to play'. He said: "The emotion is there. It's the second time I've been a European champion. It's not even the victory itself that pleases me, but playing with such teammates, this staff, and this management.

"Coming here was the best decision I've ever made. I love everything here. We deserved it today, because PSG were the only team that wanted to play."

He went on to say: "This year was different. It was harder, more physical. We were European champions, so we defended our title. We're part of PSG history. We're all happy. I want to enjoy this with my teammates now."