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Arsène Wenger has voiced his disagreement with Mikel Arteta’s claim that Arsenal were the “better team” in their Champions League semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG continued their impressive European run, sealing a place in the final against Inter Milan after overcoming Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate. The French champions secured a 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium before winning 2-1 at Parc des Princes to book their spot in the showpiece event.
In the aftermath of Arsenal’s exit, Arteta insisted his side had outplayed PSG across both legs and even suggested the Gunners were the standout team in this season’s competition.
“When you look at the two games, their best player on the pitch has been the goalkeeper,” Arteta told TNT Sports. “That tells you everything. We were very close—much closer than the result showed—but unfortunately we are out. I am very proud of the players. After 20 minutes it should have been 3-0.
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“There’s something extra you need to go your way in this competition and it didn’t. For long periods of both games we were much better than them. I don’t think there’s been a better team [than Arsenal] in the competition, but we are out.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (Image credit: Getty Images)However, Arsene Wenger, speaking on beIN SPORTS, took a different view, crediting PSG for their tactical discipline and strength over the two legs.
“I would say tonight we saw another side of PSG,” Wenger said. “They weren’t guided by possession or brilliant football but by a refusal to concede goals and by taking advantage of counter-attacks. Mentally, they were strong too. They hung in there even after missing the penalty. With Arsenal, we’ve seen a familiar issue—being unable to convert chances.
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“Overall, in the two games, I would say PSG were better than Arsenal. They had more chances and were never really in danger. So congratulations to PSG. I said a long time ago they wouldn’t be far from winning the Champions League.”
Wenger also highlighted PSG’s potential to achieve a historic season. “Let’s not forget they can still secure the domestic double, win the Champions League, and the Club World Cup. That would be an extraordinary success for Luis Enrique, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and everyone at PSG.”
Arsenal started brightly in Paris and came close to scoring early on, but Fabian Ruiz’s opener and Achraf Hakimi’s strike put PSG in control before Bukayo Saka netted a consolation for the Gunners.
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