Distraught Arteta applauds Donnarumma and labels Arsenal as the Champions League's best
Arsenal's Champions League dream was ended by Paris Saint-Germain, leaving a deflated Mikel Arteta to ponder what might have been.
Mikel Arteta cut a distraught figure as he labelled Arsenal as the best team in the Champions League this season despite their 3-1 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The Gunners boss claimed PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was the difference-maker across the two legs of the semi-final tie after seeing his side fall to a 2-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
Donnarumma made brilliant saves from the likes of Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka as the Gunners attempted to avenge their first-leg defeat at Emirates Stadium.
Ultimately, though, goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi were enough for PSG – who also saw Vitinha miss a penalty – to book a place in the final against Inter, despite Saka's consolation.
"I don't think there's been a better team [than Arsenal] in the competition from what I have seen, but we are out," Arteta told TNT Sports.
"This competition is about the boxes and in both boxes are the strikers and the goalkeepers, and [PSG's] was the best in both games.
"When you look at the two games, their best player on the pitch has been the goalkeeper, he has been the difference for them in the tie. We were very close, much closer than the result showed but unfortunately we are out. I am very proud of the players."
Arsenal produced an xG of 3.14 in the game, the most by a team against PSG in a Champions League game this season.
Their 19 shots were also their most in a knockout match since having 20 away at Barcelona in March 2016.
Arteta, who saw Saka miss a golden chance late on, felt his side were made to rue their profligacy in the opening stages before Fabian's sucker punch.
"After 20 minutes, it should have been 3-0. There is something extra you need to go your way in the competition and it didn't," he added.
"We were very close and for long periods of both games we were much better than them but we are not there and that has to hurt.
"If we want to win this competition, we have to realise that. There are certain things that are on us. You shouldn't just be understanding that we are out. That is not the way I look at it.
"I am so proud of the players. They deserve a lot of credit for what they are doing in the context of the situation and the amount of injuries, probably the worst state you could arrive here as a team.
"To come here with a different context and still do that, it gives me a lot of positives for the future but tonight I am very upset."
Arsenal have now failed to progress from each of their last four major cup semi-finals (2020-21 Europa League, 2021-22 EFL Cup, 2024-25 EFL Cup, 2024-25 Champions League) – their longest ever run at this stage of competitions.