Mikel Arteta claims Arsenal were “much better” than PSG in their Champions League semi-final, with the best team in the competition going out.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Gunners suffered more semi-final heartacheFine margins settled heavyweight showdownHead coach proud of efforts from his playersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Gunners saw their European dreams dashed for another season when suffering a 2-1 defeat at Parc des Princes. That result saw Paris Saint-Germain book a final showdown with Serie A giants Inter, as they prevailed 3-1 on aggregate.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Arsenal have now come unstuck in their last four semi-finals (2020-21 Europa League, 2021-22 League Cup, 2024-25 League Cup, 2024-25 Champions League), but Arteta believes the final outcome in their latest was unfair on the north London outfit.
WHAT MIKEL ARTETA SAID
The Spanish tactician told : “I don't think there's been a better team in the competition from what I've seen. But we are out. We deserved much more but this competition is about the boxes, the strikers most of the time and the goalkeeper and theirs was the best player in both games.
“I'm so proud of the boys, they deserve lots of credit for what they're doing and the amount of injuries. We arrived here in the worst state. You have to get here with everyone fit and available with lots of minutes. They had a week. We came here in a different context. That gives me a lot of positivity for the future.”
GettyDID YOU KNOW?
Goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi ultimately saw PSG through, as Bukayo Saka grabbed a solitary reply for Arsenal, but Gianluigi Donnarumma made eight saves across the two legs and Arteta was adamant that his side deserved more from the tie.