'arsenal 100% The Best Team In Competition' - Arteta

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal were nan champion squad successful nan Champions League this season, contempt losing their semi-final to Paris St-Germain.

The Gunners came into nan Parc des Princes needing to overturn a 1-0 nonaccomplishment from nan location first limb to book a spot successful nan last against Inter Milan.

But while Arsenal created a number of bully opportunities, they could not find a measurement past PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma until Bukayo Saka's precocious strike. By then, goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi had put nan French champions connected their measurement to a 2-1 second-leg success, and 3-1 connected aggregate.

"We were very close, overmuch person than nan consequence showed, but unluckily we are out," said Arteta.

"I americium very proud of nan players, 100% I don't deliberation there's been a amended squad [than Arsenal] successful nan title from what I person seen, but we are out.

"This title is astir nan boxes and successful some boxes are nan strikers and nan goalkeepers and theirs was nan champion successful some games."

Having grounded to scope a first Champions League last since 2006, nan Arsenal leader revealed his players were successful tears successful nan dressing room pursuing nan nonaccomplishment - and he was "upset and truthful annoyed" they not find a measurement to move astir nan tie.

Asked whether he agreed pinch Arteta, PSG leader Luis Enrique said his ain broadside deserved to scope nan final.

"Mikel Arteta is simply a awesome friend, but I don't work together astatine all," he added. "They played successful a clever measurement and they sewage nan lucifer to nan correct infinitesimal for them because they played successful nan measurement they wanted, and nan measurement they love. But successful nan 2 legs we scored much than them and that is nan astir important point successful football.

"Arsenal played a awesome match, and we suffered, but we deserved to get to nan final. They are a awesome team, but I repeat, we scored much goals, we played successful a awesome measurement successful nan first leg, and nan 2nd half of nan 2nd limb was a different match, and we could person scored moreover much goals."

The Gunners started superbly and, aft Declan Rice headed wide from adjacent range, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard forced Donnarumma into good saves.

Saka besides forced nan PSG keeper into different fantabulous extremity successful nan 2nd half arsenic Arsenal vanished nan lucifer pinch an expected extremity ratio of 3.14.

"When you analyse some games, who has been nan champion player? The MVP has been nan aforesaid player, nan goalkeeper." added Arteta.

"And nan Champions League is decided successful nan boxes and it's won nan crippled for them because evidently aft 20 minutes, and what happened successful London arsenic well, nan consequence should person been very different.

"So I tin return a batch of positives and I'm very proud of nan team. We person to get successful nan title astatine this shape pinch nan afloat squad, afloat available, successful nan champion condition. We haven't sewage that, truthful let's put that aside.

"Still, nan squad that I've seen coming is astir apt 1 of nan best, if not nan champion squad successful Europe.

"It gives maine truthful overmuch pride, but astatine nan aforesaid clip I'm truthful upset, truthful irritated that we didn't negociate to do it. I spot really overmuch they wanted it, because they were successful tears. It hurts, but you person to woody pinch that."

The conclusion meant Arsenal will extremity nan play without winning a trophy for nan 4th play successful a row, aft Arteta led them to an FA Cup triumph successful 2020 during his first play successful charge.

They person besides vanished 2nd successful nan Premier League for nan past 2 seasons and nan Spaniard was asked whether his players will struggle to get motivated to effort again aft different disappointment.

"With fearfulness you cannot play shot astatine nan highest level. We had nan champion illustration successful nan [PSG] dressing room - Marquinhos, 11 times he's tried successful this nine to beryllium a winner, 11 times he's nan captain," said Arteta.

"So that's nan truth and let's spot if they triumph it. So 11 times they person to spell down and up.

"So look successful nan reflector astatine personification for illustration this pinch that trajectory and you want to beryllium successful nan athletics and you want to beryllium competing and beryllium very adjacent to each nan trophies. You amended beryllium capable to woody pinch that."