Arteta’s Arsenal quest for a second-ever Champions League final ended in heartbreak on Tuesday night as Paris Saint-Germain secured a 2-1 victory at Parc des Princes, sealing a 3-1 aggregate win to book their place in the final against Inter Milan. Goals from Fabián Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi ensured PSG’s passage, despite a spirited Arsenal display that left their manager, Mikel Arteta, rueful at full time.
The Gunners started brightly in the French capital, putting PSG under intense pressure from the first whistle. Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard both forced excellent saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma within the opening 10 minutes, while Bukayo Saka also saw a low shot brilliantly tipped around the post by the Italian goalkeeper. But despite dominating early proceedings, Arsenal couldn’t find a breakthrough, and PSG capitalized on defensive lapses to take control of the tie.
Arteta: “We Were the Best Team – But We’re Out”
… After the final whistle, Mikel Arteta delivered an emotional verdict on his team’s performance across the two legs, insisting Arsenal were the best team in the competition but fell short in the decisive moments. “100 percent I don’t think there’s been a better team than Arsenal in this competition from what I have seen, but we are out,” Arteta declared. “We deserved much more in both games. But this competition is about the boxes — the goalkeepers and the strikers — and he [Donnarumma] was the best player in both games.”
Pressed on whether that meant the best team lost the tie, Arteta stood firm. “I think so, yes. Especially across 160 minutes,” he emphasized. “It gives me so much pride, but at the same time I’m so upset, so annoyed that we didn’t manage to do it. Today I see how much the players want it because they were in tears [at the end].” The Spanish coach’s comments reflected both pride in his side’s effort and frustration at their failure to convert dominance into goals.
Luis Enrique Counters Arteta’s Assessment
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique offered a contrasting assessment of the semifinal tie, respectfully disagreeing with his compatriot’s assertion that Arsenal were the better side. Speaking to reporters after the match, Enrique praised Arteta’s team but defended PSG’s right to reach the final. “Mikel Arteta is a great friend, but I don’t agree at all [that Arsenal deserved to win],” he said. “They play the way they want and love to play, but in the two legs, we scored more goals than them and that is the most important thing.”
The PSG boss admitted his team endured a tough challenge against the Gunners, particularly in the early stages of the second leg. “Arsenal played a great match and we suffered a lot, but we deserve to get to the final,” Enrique added. His comments highlighted the tactical resilience and clinical edge that saw PSG advance, despite Arsenal’s periods of dominance.
Missed Opportunities Haunt Arsenal’s Stars
For Arsenal’s players, the pain of elimination was compounded by a sense of missed opportunities, particularly during their blistering start in Paris. Declan Rice, who narrowly headed wide in the opening minutes, reflected on the importance of capitalizing on early chances. “If you score one of them chances, probably in the first 15 or 20 minutes, the game completely changes on its head,” the England midfielder said.
Rice pointed to two defensive mistakes that gifted PSG their goals as turning points in the tie. “Two mistakes from us, two goals for them. And obviously, with the chances we’ve missed, it just felt like it wasn’t meant to be,” he admitted. Arsenal’s inability to convert pressure into goals proved costly, as they faced a fifth consecutive season without silverware despite their progress to the last four.
. Focus Turns to Domestic Targets After European Exit
With their Champions League journey over, Arsenal now turn their attention to securing a top-four finish in the Premier League to guarantee a return to Europe’s top competition next season. Arteta acknowledged the challenge ahead, urging his squad to channel their disappointment into a strong finish domestically. “We have to pick ourselves up quickly. There’s still so much to fight for,” he said.
The Gunners’ semifinal run marked their best performance in the Champions League in over a decade, but the frustration of falling short at the penultimate hurdle will linger. For Arteta and his young squad, the experience may serve as a valuable lesson as they continue their pursuit of major honors under the Spaniard’s stewardship. The wait for European glory continues, but Arsenal’s belief in their identity and approach remains undimmed despite the pain of elimination.
