Mikel Arteta declared that his Arsenal squad has been the standout team in this season’s Champions League despite their semi-final elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, leaving players in tears. The 2-1 defeat at Parc des Princes on Wednesday dashed Arsenal’s hopes for a trophy, following a distant Premier League title race with Liverpool.
Despite being behind from the first leg and conceding early on in Paris, Arsenal put up a fight with Gunners goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making crucial saves – but still succumbed to a goal from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi sealed its fate, rendering Bukayo Saka’s goal a mere consolation in a 3-1 aggregate loss.
Yet, Arteta, speaking to TNT Sports post-match, asserted: “I don’t think there has been a better team in the competition so far from what I have seen, but we are out.”
At the press conference, when quizzed on whether he believed the top team had been eliminated, he confirmed, “Yes, and I am saying that because PSG just told me that. Today I see how much my players wanted it because they were in tears.
“We deserved much more. When you analyse both games, the MVP (Most Valuable Player) has been the PSG goalkeeper. The Champions League is decided in the boxes, and it’s won them the game. The result should have been very different.
“It gives me so much pride, but at the same time I’m so upset and so annoyed that we didn’t manage to do it.”
Arsenal has finished as runners-up for two consecutive seasons in the Premier League and currently sits second once more, with Liverpool having already won the title. That gap could soon become 18 points with the two sides meeting at Anfield this weekend.
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Arteta’s tenure has seen a resurgence in Arsenal’s domestic and European form, leading his side to a first Champions League semi-final in 16 years. Yet, the only silverware under his leadership so far is the 2020 FA Cup.
When questioned about his team’s ability to secure titles, Arteta responded with cautious optimism: “Well, it depends. Two years ago, nobody believed that we could qualify for the Champions League, or even think that we could finish second and compete in the league.
“And the amount of points that we have scored in other years, makes you a champion. The reality is you need something to lift, and to get that trophy, and the disappointment is that we don’t have it.
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“Winning trophies is about being in the right moment in the right place. Liverpool has won the title with less points than we have in the last two seasons. So for the past two seasons we have two Premier League (titles).”
Paris Saint-Germain has set an impressive record by defeating three Premier League sides consecutively, with Arsenal being the latest casualty after Liverpool and Aston Villa. The French giants’ road to glory didn’t stop there, as they also triumphed over Manchester City during the group stages.
Up next, PSG will square off against Inter Milan in what promises to be a captivating finale. When quizzed about Mikel Arteta’s comments suggesting Arsenal were the superior team across both ties, PSG coach Luis Enrique made his stance clear: “I don’t agree at all,” he asserted. “Mikel Arteta is a great friend, but I don’t agree at all.”
