Mikel Arteta said Arsenal were the best team in the Champions League this season, even though they lost in the semi-finals to Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal needed to win at PSG after losing the first leg 1-0 at home to reach the final against Inter Milan.
They had several good chances but couldn’t beat PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma until Bukayo Saka scored late. By that time, Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi had already scored for PSG, giving them a 2-1 win in the second leg and a 3-1 victory overall.
Arteta said, “We were very close, closer than the score shows, but sadly, we’re out.”
“I’m very proud of the players. From what I’ve seen, Arsenal were the best team in the competition. But we’re out. In this competition, it’s all about taking chances and having strong goalkeepers, and PSG had the better ones in both games.”
Arsenal couldn’t reach their first Champions League final since 2006, and after the loss, the players were seen crying in the dressing room. Coach Mikel Arteta said he was very upset and frustrated that they couldn’t turn the match around.
When asked if he agreed with Arteta, PSG coach Luis Enrique disagreed. He said his team deserved to be in the final.
“Arteta is a good friend, but I don’t agree,” Enrique said. “Arsenal played smart and controlled the match the way they wanted. But over two games, we scored more goals, and in football, that’s what counts.”
He added that Arsenal played well and gave PSG a tough time, but PSG’s strong performance in the first leg and second half of the return leg helped them earn their spot in the final.
Arsenal started the game really well. Declan Rice missed a good chance with a header, and both Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard forced great saves from PSG goalkeeper Donnarumma. In the second half, Bukayo Saka also tested Donnarumma, but the keeper was in top form again. Arsenal ended the match with an expected goal rate of 3.14.
Arteta said, “If you look at both games, the best player was the same in both — their goalkeeper. The Champions League is decided in key moments, and their keeper made the difference. In the first 20 minutes, and even in the first leg in London, things could have gone our way.”
He added, “There are still a lot of positives to take. I’m very proud of the team. To go this far in the competition, you need your full squad healthy and ready, which we didn’t have. But even with that, this team showed they’re possibly the best in Europe. That fills me with pride — but I’m also very upset because we couldn’t finish the job. The players were in tears. They gave everything, and it hurts.”
This loss means Arsenal finish another season without a trophy. Their last major win was the FA Cup in 2020. They’ve also ended the Premier League in second place for two seasons in a row. Arteta was asked if this repeated disappointment would affect the players’ motivation.
He responded, “You can’t play football at the highest level if you’re afraid. Look at Marquinhos from PSG — he’s tried 11 times to win it for his club. He’s their captain. That’s what it takes — going through failure and still pushing on. If you want to win and be near trophies, you must be able to handle these tough moments.”
