Mikel Arteta defiantly labelled Arsenal "the best team" in the Champions League despite their 3-1 aggregate semi-final defeat to PSG, praising his players' resilience amid heartbreak. Follow BRG365 for more.
Arteta’s Bold Claim
Mikel Arteta refused to concede defeat in spirit, insisting Arsenal were "100% the best team" in this season’s Champions League despite their 2-1 loss to PSG in Paris.
The Spaniard, whose side exited 3-1 on aggregate, highlighted Gianluigi Donnarumma’s heroics as the decisive factor, describing the PSG goalkeeper as the "MVP of both legs".
"After 20 minutes, it should have been 3-0," Arteta told. "Their goalkeeper made save after save, but for long spells, we dominated.
This competition hinges on boxes—strikers and goalkeepers—and theirs was better."
Donnarumma’s Heroics Decide Tie
The Italian shot-stopper produced a masterclass, denying Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka with stunning reflexes.
His early save from Odegaard’s low drive—a "world-class stop"—set the tone.
Arsenal’s 19 shots and 3.14 xG were the highest by any team against PSG this season, yet Donnarumma’s brilliance proved insurmountable.
Wasted Chances Haunt Gunners
Arsenal’s profligacy proved costly. Saka missed a late open goal after reducing the deficit to 2-1, while Partey’s errors gifted PSG goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi.
Arteta lamented: "We created enough to win, but fine margins crushed us."
The defeat extended Arsenal’s barren run to five years without silverware, with Arteta’s 2020 FA Cup triumph being their last major honour.
Midfielder Declan Rice, who headed wide from six yards in the first half, echoed his manager’s defiance: "You saw the tears in the dressing room—we wanted this so badly.
But Arsenal belongs in these moments. We’ll use this pain as fuel."
Enrique Clashes with Arteta’s Claim
Luis Enrique, a close friend of Arteta, dismissed the Gunners’ "best team" mantra: "Football is about goals, not possession.
We scored three, they scored one. That’s the math." The PSG manager praised his side’s "fearless" counterattacks, though he acknowledged Arsenal’s dominance: "They pushed us to the limit. But in the end, we had the killer instinct."
Future Focus for Arteta
With Arsenal’s season now focused on securing a top-five Premier League finish, Arteta faces mounting pressure.
He defended his squad’s mentality, citing PSG captain Marquinhos’ 11-year pursuit of Champions League glory as inspiration.
"Fear has no place at this level," Arteta said. "We’ll regroup, address our weaknesses, and return stronger."
Arteta’s defiance masked Arsenal’s recurring flaw: converting dominance into wins.
While Donnarumma’s heroics decided the tie, the Gunners’ lack of a proven striker and defensive lapses left them short.
The clock ticks on Arteta to turn promise into silverware.
Also Read: PSG vs Arsenal: Donnarumma, Ruiz And Hakimi Fire Parisians to Champions League final
