Mikel Arteta: 'We were the best team in the competition'

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal were the best team in the UEFA Champions League despite their semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

I don't think there's been a better team in the competition from what I have seen.

The Gunners boss' message was one of defiance after he watched his side succumb to a 3-1 aggregate defeat in France.

The visitors started brightly with all three of Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard going close to firing them ahead.

Much like the first-leg though, they found Italian shot stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma in inspired form between the Parc de Princes sticks.

It was perhaps against the run of play when Fabian Ruiz unleashed a thunderous half-volley to double PSG's advantage in the tie.

More misery was then heaped onto Arsenal as Achraf Hakimi struck to make it 2-0 on the night and it could have been more had Vitinha not been brilliantly denied from the spot by David Raya.

Bukayo Saka mustered a consolation but that is all it would be as Arsenal departed at the last four stage.

"We were very close, much closer than the result showed, but unfortunately we are out,", Arteta said.

I am very proud of the players, 100% I don't think there's been a better team in the competition from what I have seen, but we are out.

"This competition is about the boxes and in both boxes are the strikers and the goalkeepers and theirs was the best in both games."

Football is often referred to as a game of opinions and opposing boss Luis Enrique was not shy in delivering his assessment of events.

"Arsenal played a great match, and we suffered, but we deserved to get to the final. Mikel Arteta is a great friend, but I don't agree at all.

"They are a great team, but I repeat, we scored more goals, we played in a great way in the first leg, and the second half of the second leg was a different match, and we could have scored even more goals."

With victories against Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal - PSG have defeated four Premier League clubs en-route to the final in Munich.

Enrique could not resist a joke about critics of the French top division when asked about his record against English sides.

"The league of farmers, no? We are the league of farmers," he smiled.

"It’s nice. Now we are enjoying not only the results but also the compliments of everybody speaking about our team."

You can see all the latest UEFA Champions League odds on our dedicated UEFA Champions League hub.

William Dobbie

• Arsenal F.C.
• Paris Saint-Germain F.C.
• UEFA Champions League
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