Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged Paris Saint-Germain as the top team globally after his side lost in the Champions League final on penalties. PSG secured their second consecutive Champions League title with a 4-3 shootout victory following a 1-1 tie in extra time.
Arteta expressed his disappointment, recognizing that his Premier League-winning Arsenal team was outmatched by the French champions who controlled possession throughout the match. “I want to applaud PSG, especially Luis (Enrique), as they are, in my view, the best team worldwide,” stated Arteta during a press conference in Budapest.
Arsenal, with less than 25 percent possession, defended resolutely against PSG’s relentless attacks. PSG equaled the record for most goals scored in a Champions League campaign with Ousmane Dembele’s penalty, matching Kai Havertz’s early goal for Arsenal.
Arteta voiced frustration over the non-awarding of a penalty to Arsenal’s Noni Madueke when the score was level at 1-1 but acknowledged the need for further improvement to compete for the Champions League title. This marked Arsenal’s second appearance in the final, 20 years after their defeat against Barcelona in Paris.
Despite leading Arsenal to an English title after a 22-year drought during his almost seven-year tenure, Arteta emphasized the necessity for continued evolution. “We must replicate the progress of recent years and raise our standards, as competition intensifies every season,” stated the Spanish coach.
Arteta stressed the importance of using the disappointment from the final as motivation to enhance performance and elevate Arsenal to meet the rising standards in European football.