Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal players to do one thing after painful Champions League exit
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that the club’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain left him deeply hurt—but he has challenged his players to channel their disappointment into coming back stronger.
The Gunners’ European journey, which featured several memorable moments, came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, sealing a 3-1 aggregate loss that denied them a place in the final.
Speaking after the match, Arteta emphasised the importance of resilience and using the pain of the defeat as fuel for future success.
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“Yes, 100 per cent,” Arteta said. “You have to be prepared to take these difficult moments on the chin and get up again. We have a great example in the other dressing room with Marquinhos—he’s tried to win the Champions League 11 times and failed 11 times. But every season, he keeps trying, competing with his head held high.
“We had an amazing performance, but it has to hurt. It’s not enough to say, ‘Yeah, we were very close, we competed well, we were better than them for most of the game.’ It has to hurt, because if it doesn’t, this will happen again. We need to do more, have more availability, and more options. That’s the next step.”
Reflecting on the match, Arteta noted that Arsenal once again outperformed the French champions in terms of chances created, but were thwarted by an inspired display from PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma—just as they had been in the first leg at the Emirates.
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“Congratulations to PSG for reaching the final,” Arteta said. “And I want to thank our supporters for the incredible journey we’ve had together. The amount of support, the way they lifted the team, and the belief that we could do it—it’s been unbelievable. It’s a very sad day, and I know they are disappointed.
“I think the team showed incredible personality and quality. After 20 minutes, we should have been two or three nil up. These ties are usually decided in the boxes, and in both games, their best player was their goalkeeper—he made the difference, and probably the scoreline too.”
Arsenal’s exit means the wait for a return to the Champions League final goes on, but Arteta’s words make clear that the focus is now firmly on turning this disappointment into renewed determination for the future.
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