Mikel Arteta boldly claimed Arsenal had been the Champions League’s best this season in a sour interview after Wednesday’s semi-final exit to Paris Saint-Germain. The Gunners fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes, losing 3-1 on aggregate to confirm a fifth consecutive season without silverware.
Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi fired the hosts into a two-goal lead before Bukayo Saka offered a glimmer of hope late on but missed an open goal moments later. Arteta was understandably downbeat after the final whistle and was visibly struggling to come to terms with his side’s elimination.
“First, congratulations to PSG for reaching the final. The assessment I will make when I am a little cooler,” Arteta told TNT Sports.
“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.
“We were very close, much closer than the result showed, but unfortunately, we are out. I am very proud of the players.
“After 20 minutes, it should have been 3-0. There is something extra you need to go your way in the competition, and it didn’t.
“We were very close and for long periods of both games we were much better than them but we are not there and that has to hurt.
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