'That has to hurt' - Arteta reflects on Champions League exit to PSG

[ad_1] Mikel Arteta says elimination from the Champions League semi-final by the hands of PSG “has to harm” his gamers if they're to someday win the competitors.

The Gunners fell on the penultimate hurdle after a 2-1 loss within the second-leg on the Parc des Princes – 3-1 on combination – because the French champions march on the face Inter Milan in Munich within the last.

Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi gave PSG management of the tie in Paris however solely after a blistering begin from the guests that noticed keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma pull off a string of spectacular saves early on.

Vitinha noticed a penalty saved by David Raya shortly earlier than Bukayo Saka pulled one again for Arteta’s males with 15-minutes remaining.

The England winger then squandered an excellent probability to cut back the deficit additional however it was Luis Enrique’s facet who advance to contest the most important trophy in European membership soccer.

Maintain your heads held excessive, Gooners.

We’ll be again. pic.twitter.com/96aKCnO7Go

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) Might 7, 2025

Whereas gracious in defeat, Arteta believes his staff had been the higher of the 2 over the course of the tie.

“To start with, [I want to] congratulate PSG for reaching the ultimate. The evaluation I'll make after I’m just a little bit cooler, however the suggestions I received right away from their bench was we had been a lot better than them,” mentioned the Arsenal boss.

“While you take a look at the 2 sport who has been their finest participant on the pitch? It has been their goalkeeper.

“He’s made a distinction for them within the tie. And I feel we had been shut. A lot nearer than the outcome exhibits. However sadly we're out.

“I'm very happy with the gamers. What we did at this time, the best way we began, how we dealt with the strain. After 20 minutes it ought to be 3-0. However there's something wanted within the competitors to go your approach and it didn’t [for us].”

Arsenal at the moment are set for an additional trophyless season – their fifth in a row. And Arteta thinks his gamers have to study from the ache of defeat with a view to finish their silverware drought.