Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has boldly declared that his side were the best team in the Champions League this season, despite falling short in the semi-finals with a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
The Gunners were beaten 2-1 in the second leg at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, ending their hopes of a first-ever Champions League crown.
In a tie where Gianluigi Donnarumma starred with a string of vital saves, Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi struck for PSG before Bukayo Saka pulled one back for the visitors, a goal that proved too little, too late.
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Despite the loss, Arteta was defiant and praised his players’ performance.
“When you look at the two games, their best player on the pitch has been the goalkeeper. He has been the difference for them in the tie,” Arteta said.
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“I’m very proud of the players. 100 percent, I don’t think there’s been a better team in the competition from what I’ve seen, but we are out.”
He lamented Arsenal’s missed chances, especially during a dominant opening spell in the second leg, adding.
“After 20 minutes, it should have been 3-0. We were very close, and for long periods of both games, we were much better than them. But we are not in the final, and that has to hurt.”
While proud of his team’s progress, Arteta admitted Arsenal were punished for their lack of clinical finishing and errors in key moments.
“This competition is about the boxes, and in both boxes are the strikers and the goalkeepers. Theirs were the best in both games.”
