A pissed off Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal have been the very best group within the Champions League this season regardless of their exit to Paris Saint-Germain within the semi-finals.
Arsenal’s European dream was ended by targets from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi, who earned Paris Saint-Germain a 2-1 win on the night time and a Champions League last date with Inter Milan.
The French champions have been beneath speedy strain as Declan Rice acquired beneath a Jurrien Timber cross to go off track, kickstarting a frantic five-minute spell that required Gianluigi Donnarumma to tug off excellent stops to maintain out Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli. The early did not purpose did not come and Arsenal have been all the time taking part in catch-up from that time.
The Gunners have didn’t progress from every of their final 4 main cup semi-finals (2020-21 Europa League, 2021-22 League Cup, 2024-25 League Cup, 2024-25 Champions League).
Arteta believes his aspect deserved to make the ultimate based mostly on the 2 legs with and hailed Arsenal as the very best group within the competitors regardless of the exit.
“I don’t think there’s been a better team in the competition form what I’ve seen,” Arteta instructed TNT Sports activities.
“However we’re out. We deserved far more however this competitors is concerning the bins, the strikers more often than not and the goalkeeper and theirs was the very best participant in each video 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.”
Donnarumma made eight saves and Arsenal created 4.77 value of anticipated targets throughout the 2 legs however solely discovered the online as soon as as an incapacity to be medical with their ending value them pricey.
Arteta added: “The assessment I’ll make when I’m a little bit cooler but the feeling I get from their bench was that we were much better than them.
“Over the 2 legs the very best participant on the pitch was their goalkeeper – he is made a distinction within the tie. We have been very shut a lot nearer than the outcomes confirmed however sadly we’re out. I am so proud. How we began and dealt with the strain – after 20 minutes we needs to be 3-0 up. However there’s something additional on this competitors to go your method and it did not.
“I’m upset, it has to hurt. If we want to win this competition and we need to realise that. Just understanding that we are out is not the way I look at it.”
