Arsenal’s coach Arteta admits PSG is the best team in the world after Champions League defeat

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hailed Paris Saint-Germain as the best team in the world after his side suffered heartbreak in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, May 30. PSG retained the European crown by defeating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

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Speaking after the match in Budapest, Arteta admitted he was feeling “pain” following the defeat and praised PSG manager Luis Enrique and his players for their performance. “I want to congratulate PSG, Luis in particular, because in my opinion they are the best in the world,” Arteta told reporters.

“What they are able to do with the ball, with individual actions, I haven’t seen it (before), and it’s not a plan to play in certain scenarios when you don’t have the ball, but they force you to do that. So even more praise to the players.”

Despite winning the Premier League this season, Arsenal struggled to gain control of the final and spent much of the game defending against sustained PSG pressure, finishing with less than 25 per cent possession.

Arsenal took the lead through Kai Havertz before PSG equalised in the second half with a penalty from Ousmane Dembélé, helping the French champions equal the record of 45 goals scored in a single Champions League campaign. Arteta also expressed frustration over a decision not to award Arsenal winger Noni Madueke a penalty when the score was level, but acknowledged that his team must continue improving if they are to lift Europe’s biggest club trophy.

The defeat marked Arsenal’s second appearance in a Champions League final and their second loss, coming 20 years after their 2006 defeat to FC Barcelona. Reflecting on the setback, Arteta said Arsenal must use the disappointment as motivation for future success.

“The same progression that we had in the last few years, we’re going to have to do that over again, and the level is increasing every single season,” he said. “You have to go through that pain, digest it and turn it into fuel to improve and to reach a different level, because it demands a different level with the quality that is around Europe.”