Arteta: The Best Team In The Champions League Has Been Eliminated

Arsenal were eliminated in the semifinals of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain (Instagram/@arsenal).

JAKARTA - Mikel Arteta said the best team lost after Arsenal were eliminated from the Champions League semi-finals this season.

Paris Saint-Germain won 2-1 on Thursday, May 8, 2025, early morning WIB, with goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi to complete their 3-1 aggregate win and advance to the final against Inter Milan in Munich on May 31, 2025.

The Gunners started the match quickly in the French capital as PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made two brilliant saves from Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard in the first 10 minutes.

Donnarumma also made a brilliant save with a finger to save Bukayo Saka's shot before Vitinha missed a penalty in the 69th minute for Myles Lewis-Skelly's handball which was awarded through a VAR review.

Saka finally scored in the 76th minute, but it was an entertainment goal as Arsenal failed to reach the second Champions League final. Now, they face the fifth season in a row without a trophy.

"In my opinion, there is no better team (from Arsenal) in this tournament. So, from what I saw, we were eliminated."

"I think we deserved better in both games. However, this tournament is about the penalty box.

"In both penalty boxes there are usually attackers and goalkeepers. He is the best player in both matches," Arteta said after the match.

When asked if it meant the best team lost the game against PSG, Arteta agreed.

"In my opinion, yes. Especially for 160 minutes. I said that. They also said that because they had just said that to me."

"It makes me very proud, but at the same time I was very upset, very irritated because we didn't manage to do it."

"Today I saw how much the players wanted him because they were crying (at the end of the game)," said Arteta.

PSG manager Luis Enrique was asked about the assessment after the match but respectfully disagreed with his compatriots.

"Mikel Arteta is a good friend, but I totally disagree (that Arsenal deserved to win)."

"They play the way they want and like to play, but in two legs, we score more goals than them and that's the most important thing."

"Arsenal played a great game and we suffered a lot, but we deserved to advance to the final," said Luis Enrique.

Meanwhile, midfielder Declan Rice, whose header went wide early in the game from Donnarumma's goal post, said Arsenal's early goal could change the result of the match.

"If you score one of those chances, maybe in the first 15 or 20 minutes, the game will change completely."

"Then, two of our mistakes became two goals for PSG. Obviously, with the opportunities we missed, it felt like that shouldn't have happened," the England midfielder said.

Arsenal have now failed to advance from their last four major cup semifinals (Erupa 2020/2021 League, Carabao Cup 2021/2022, Carabao Cup 2024/2025, 2024/2025 Champions League).

They have also failed very much in the two Premier League titles with Manchester City in the last two seasons.

However, Rice said the setback would make them stronger.

"I think sometimes you have to lose a few times to win. You have to overcome setbacks and grow mentally, grow as a person, player, and a group."

"We grew up as a team, as humans, which we need to continue to push and we continue to believe," Rice said.