Arteta claims there ‘hasn’t been a better team’ in the Champions League than Arsenal this season after his side are knocked out by PSG | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta claimed some of those representing PSG told him that the best team lost the game, following Arsenal’s Champions League exit in Paris.

The Gunners were beaten 2-1 and 3-1 on aggregate as they were knocked out of the competition at the semi-final stage.

Fabian Ruiz gave the home side the lead in the second leg via a deflection off William Saliba, before Achraf Hakimi scored a second on the night and PSG’s third goal overall in the tie.

Bukayo Saka gave the Gunners a late lifeline but it proved to be too much to do for his side as they were knocked out.

Arsenal boss Arteta, however, says the best team lost the game.

Asked if he thought that was the case, he responded: “I think so, yeah.

“Especially for 160 minutes. I’m saying that and they are saying that because they just told me that.”

Asked if they meant those from PSG, he answered: “Yeah.”

Arteta went as far as to say his team have been the best in the Champions League this season, despite failing to reach the final, telling TNT Sports: “The feedback that I got straight away from their bench is that we were much better than them.

“When you look at the two games, who has been the best player on the pitch, it’s been their goalkeeper. He’s made the difference for them in the tie.

“I think we were very close. Much closer than our results showed but unfortunately we are out.

“I don’t think there has been a better team in the competition so far, from what I’ve seen.

“But we are out tonight. We deserve much more in both games but this competition is about the boxes and in the boxes normally there are the strikers most of the time and the goalkeeper and he was their best player in both games.”

But Arteta also admitted that mistakes cost his side and says his players must take responsibility for that.

“I am sad and I am upset,” he said. “For long periods we were much better than them but we are not there and that has to hurt.

“If we want to win this competition and go there, we need to realise that and there are certain things that are on us.”