Champions League Exit Sparks Controversy
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta couldn’t hide his emotions after their heartbreaking Champions League semi-final defeat, insisting his team was the best in the tournament and didn’t deserve to go out. Despite falling 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg at Parc des Princes—and 3-1 on aggregate—Arteta stood by his players, revealing many were left in tears after the match. “From what I’ve seen, I don’t think there’s been a better team in the Champions League this season,” he told TNT Sports. “But we’re out.” The Gunners had started brightly, with two early chances denied by PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. But Fabian Ruiz struck in the 27th minute, and Achraf Hakimi sealed the tie in the second half before Bukayo Saka managed a late goal for pride.
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Speaking at the post-match press conference, Arteta said even PSG players had admitted Arsenal were the better side. “Yes, and I’m saying that because they told me so,” he explained. “When you look at both legs, their goalkeeper was the standout player. That tells you everything.” He praised his players’ passion and effort but admitted it was painful to exit the tournament after coming so close. “I feel proud, but also angry and disappointed that we couldn’t go further,” he said. Champions League Exit Sparks Controversy.
With Liverpool already crowned Premier League champions, Arsenal’s hopes of winning a trophy this season were dashed with this loss. They currently sit second in the league with just three games left. Arteta, who has only one trophy to his name since taking charge—the FA Cup in 2020—remains optimistic about the team’s future. When asked whether his squad has what it takes to win, he pointed to their recent progress. “Two years ago, people didn’t think we could make the Champions League, let alone finish second,” he said. “In any other season, the points we’ve earned would have made us champions.” Champions League Exit Sparks Controversy.
He also shared some perspective from PSG’s Marquinhos, who is in his 11th attempt at winning the Champions League. “If you want to win in sport, you have to deal with setbacks,” Arteta added. PSG manager Luis Enrique, meanwhile, respectfully disagreed with Arteta’s claim that Arsenal were the better side, saying, “They played well and made us suffer, but in football, the team that scores more over two legs deserves to go through.”
