Champions League: "We were better, that's clear," Mikel Arteta persists and signs after PSG-Arsenal

Alone against all. Author of a lunar press conference before the first leg against PSG , last week, in London, in the semi-finals of the Champions League, Mikel Arteta continued on this astonishing line after the elimination of Arsenal, last Wednesday, at the Parc des Princes. " The best team lost ," said the Gunners coach , after the 2-1 victory of the Red and Blue . Obviously, Luis Enrique did not particularly agree with his compatriot Spaniard after the match. He is not the only one. Even Arsenal legends, like Arsène Wenger and Thierry Henry, recognized the superiority of Paris Saint-Germain.

Mikel Arteta, however, remains firm. " It was one of the saddest moments since I became Arsenal manager, but also one of the proudest, for many obvious reasons ," he said at a press conference on Friday.

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When asked if the Basque still thought Arsenal were the better team on the Porte de Saint-Cloud pitch, he had no hesitation: " 100%, I rewatched the match, I rewatched all the stats, we had the best stats and the biggest goal difference in the semi-finals. It's very clear." When he talks about " goal difference ," the former PSG midfielder is most likely referring to xG. " Arsenal achieved an xG of 3.14 this (Friday), the best total by a team against Paris-SG in the Champions League this season ," as Opta analyzed after the match.

It's very painful to be honest.

Mikel Arteta

And Arteta continued: " But it's not about the odds of winning or merit, you have to make it happen, make it count. When you look at the important statistics that normally give you the best chance of winning, we were better, that's clear ." The London manager then confided that this elimination is " very painful. We started the game very well, we took control and we created good chances. But it's in the penalty area that games are decided and we weren't up to the task. That's where we have to be more precise and avoid conceding goals like we did. We have to stay united, strong and learn from our mistakes ." The last part of Mikel Arteta's analysis is probably the most accurate.

Meanwhile, "his" Gunners will face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday (5:30 p.m.), during the 36th day of the Premier League . Another painful moment for Arsenal. Arteta confirmed that his players will comply with the custom of the guard of honor to salute the season of the Reds, champions of England ahead of... Arsenal ( the ranking here ). " They deserve it ," he swears. Like PSG to play in the Champions League final...