Mikel Arteta claims Arsenal were the best team in this season’s Champions League

An emotional Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal have been the best team in the Champions League this season and did not deserve to lose their semi-final as he revealed their defeat against Paris St Germain left his players in tears.

Arsenal’s hopes of silverware, and bid to win the Champions League for the first time, ended following their 2-1 defeat at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

The Gunners were already trailing by a goal in the semi-final, and despite forcing goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into two fine saves inside the first 15 minutes, they fell further behind when Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring after 27 minutes.

Achraf Hakimi killed the tie in the second half before Bukayo Saka scored what would prove only a consolation in a 3-1 aggregate loss.

However, Arteta told TNT Sports: “I don’t think there has been a better team in the competition so far from what I have seen, but we are out.”

And later at his press conference when asked if he felt the best team had lost, he added: “Yes, and I am saying that because they (PSG) just told me that. Today I see how much my players wanted it because they were in tears.

“We deserved much more. When you analyse both games, the MVP (Most Valuable Player), has been their goalkeeper.

"I don't think there's been a better team in the competition so far"

Mikel Arteta speaks on the progress of his Arsenal team, and believes they've been the best team in the Champions League despite losing to PSG