Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta on Friday reiterated that Arsenal were the best team in the Champions League this season even after losing their semifinal clash against Paris Saint Germain in the midweek. The Spaniard, however, said that they had taken a step back domestically.
“100%. I’ve watched it back, seen all the stats. We had the best stats and best goal difference in the semi-final so it is very clear. But it’s not about the winning probability or what you’ve merited, it’s actually making it happen and making it count. When you look at the important stats that normally give you the best platform to win football matches, it’s crystal clear who was better,” Arteta said when asked about his claims after the PSG clash when he said that the better side lost.
On Thursday, Arteta had said that Arsenal were the better side. “I think so (the better team lost). Especially for 160 minutes. They (PSG) told us,” he said, referring to PSG admitting it, too. “It was a case of the most of the performance was there, but just the finishing of the chances wasn’t.”
PSG manager Luis Enrique, however, said Arteta is his great friend, but he disagreed with his point of view and believed PSG deserved to proceed to the finals.
“Arteta is a great friend, but I don’t agree at all. They played in a clever way, but we scored more goals than them and in football it’s the most important thing,” said Enrique. “They did great, we suffered a lot. It’s the match we suffered the most. But I think we deserved to go to the final,” he added.
Arsenal will next face Liverpool on Sunday with the Gunners 15 points behind the Premier League champions and only three clear of third-placed Manchester City and four ahead of Newcastle United and Chelsea in the Premier league. Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are also still battling for top-five placings with three matches remaining.
“In the Premier League we’ve done a step backwards. With the points that we have created, it’s clear that we haven’t done as good as last season, that’s obvious,” said Arteta, who felt Arsenal could have won two titles in different circumstances.
