Following elimination from the semi-final stage at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal gaffer Mikel Arteta cut a defiant figure as he insisted his side were the best team in the Champions League this season.
Arteta’s charges lost 3-1 on aggregate following their 2-1 second leg loss at Parc des Princes, following goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Gunners — who got a late goal through Bukayo Saka — after creating a number of good chances early on in the contest only to be denied by great saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Missing out on the final meant Arsenal’s hunt for a major title now stretches up to five years – and Arteta claimed his side were unlucky not to have made it to the final.
“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,” Arteta said.
“I’m very proud of the players. We were very close, much closer than the result showed but unfortunately we are out.
“After 20 minutes it should have been 3-0. We were very close and for long periods of both games we were much better than them but we are not there [in the final] and that has to hurt.”
Arsenal were once again affected for a lack of cutting edge and untimely defensive mistakes, this season.
And even Arteta admitted the north London club were punished for their shortcomings in both 18 yard areas.
“If we want to win this competition we have to realise that. There are certain things that are on us. You shouldn’t just be understanding we are out. That is not the way I look at it,” he added.
“I don’t think there has been a better team in the competition.
“This competition is about the boxes, and in the boxes are the strikers and the goalkeeper. He [Donnarumma] was the best player in both games.”
