Arsenal’s Heartbreak in Paris: Arteta’s Frustration and PSG’s Triumph
In a night filled with drama and high stakes, Arsenal’s journey in the Champions League came to a disappointing end as they were ousted by Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals. Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, was left lamenting the outcome, stating that the best team lost after PSG secured a 2-1 victory on Tuesday night. This result, combined with their previous win, gave PSG a 3-1 aggregate triumph, setting them up for a final showdown against Inter Milan in Munich on May 31.
The match began with Arsenal showing great promise. The Gunners were quick off the blocks in the French capital, with PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma being called into action early. He made two impressive saves from Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard within the first ten minutes, showcasing his exceptional skills between the posts.
As the game progressed, Donnarumma continued to be a thorn in Arsenal’s side, making a crucial fingertip save to deny Bukayo Saka. The tension escalated when Vitinha missed a penalty in the 69th minute, awarded after a VAR review for a handball by Myles Lewis-Skelly. Despite Saka eventually finding the net in the 76th minute, it was merely a consolation goal as Arsenal’s hopes of reaching their second Champions League Final were dashed. This defeat also marked their fifth consecutive season without a trophy.
After the match, Arteta expressed his disappointment, saying, “100 percent I don’t think there’s been a better team [than Arsenal] in the competition so from what I have seen, but we are out. We deserved much more I think in both games. But this competition is about the boxes and in both boxes there are normally the strikers most of the time and the goalkeepers and he was the best player in both games.”
When pressed on whether the best team lost the tie with PSG, Arteta replied, “I think so, yes. Especially across 160 minutes. I’m saying that and they are saying that because they just told me that. It gives me so much pride, but at the same time I’m so upset, so annoyed that we didn’t manage to do it. Today I see how much the players want it because they were in tears [at the end].”
On the other side, PSG’s manager Luis Enrique had a different perspective. When asked about Arteta’s assessment, he respectfully disagreed, stating, “Mikel Arteta is a great friend, but I don’t agree at all [that Arsenal deserved to win]. They play the way they want and love to play, but in the two legs, we scored more goals than them and that is the most important thing. Arsenal played a great match and we suffered a lot, but we deserve to get to the final.”
Declan Rice, Arsenal’s midfielder, reflected on the match, noting that an early goal could have changed the dynamics. “If you score one of them chances, probably in the first 15 or 20 minutes, the game completely changes on its head,” the England midfielder said. “Then, two mistakes from us, two goals for them. And obviously, with the chances we’ve missed, it just felt like it wasn’t meant to be.”
- Arsenal’s recent struggles in major competitions:
- 2020-21 Europa League semifinals
- 2021-22 Carabao Cup semifinals
- 2024-25 Carabao Cup semifinals
- 2024-25 Champions League semifinals
Additionally, Arsenal has faced heartbreak in the Premier League, falling short in two title races against Manchester City in the past two seasons. However, Rice remains optimistic, believing that these setbacks will ultimately strengthen the team. “I think sometimes you have to lose a few in order to win, and you have to overcome setbacks and mentally grow and grow as a person and as a player and as a group,” Rice said. “We’re growing as a team, as people, that we need to keep pushing and keep believing.”
Originally Written by: James Olley
