Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reiterated his belief that his team was the best in this season’s UEFA Champions League, even after being eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals. However, he also acknowledged on Friday that Arsenal has fallen short domestically.
Speaking ahead of their crucial clash with Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday, Arteta defended his bold midweek claim, saying no other team in Europe had performed better in the competition.
“Absolutely, 100%,” he told reporters. “I’ve reviewed the matches, looked at all the stats — we had the best numbers, the best goal difference in the semi-finals. It’s very clear.”
He added, “But football isn’t just about stats or what you deserve. It’s about making things happen and delivering when it counts. Still, when you look at the key indicators that usually lead to winning games, it’s obvious who the better team was.”
Arteta described Wednesday’s semi-final loss as both heartbreaking and a source of pride.
“That match was one of the saddest but also one of the proudest moments I’ve experienced as Arsenal manager,” he said.
While Arsenal impressed in Europe, their Premier League campaign has faltered. They currently sit second, trailing Liverpool by 15 points, with just a slim lead over Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Chelsea in the race for the top spots. Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa also remain in the hunt for European qualification with three games to go.
“In the Premier League, we’ve taken a step back,” Arteta admitted. “We haven’t matched the standards of last season, that much is clear. With the points we’ve earned, it’s not been good enough.”
In the previous two seasons, Arsenal collected over 80 points — a total often sufficient to win the title. This season, however, they have just 67 points to Liverpool’s 82.
Arteta also confirmed that his players would give Liverpool a guard of honour at Anfield on Sunday, calling it a mark of respect and a source of inspiration moving forward.
“If someone is better, you acknowledge it and aim to reach that level,” he said.
He closed by urging his team to end the season with pride: “We want to finish strong and make sure we’re proud of how we compete and how we close out the campaign.”
