Arsene Wenger gave his opinion on Arsenal's heartbreaking Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain, after his former team crashed into the semi-final phase after a 3-1 defeat to total.
Arsenal went on the second stage on Wednesday in the Parc de Princes with a 1-0 deficit to fall and was left to strengthen a catalog with missed opportunities in the beginning when Fabian Ruiz scored against the game to place the French giants in the draw.
Despite the mounting of a considerable pressure on the goal of PSG, which was again perfectly guarded by in-form goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Gunners were further in the 72nd minute, with Achraf Hakimi's curly effort from outside the penalty area that the French side laid within the moving distance of the final in Munich.
Three goals at the back of aggregated, Arsenal managed to retire in the 76th minute through Bukayo Saka, who set up a Nervy finish almost later with a golden opportunity – just to see his efforts over the bar.
By leaving the Champions League, Arsenal confirmed that they will end the campaign without silverware, after they crashed from all domestic competitions and admitted the Premier League title to Liverpool last month.
Wenger, who coached Arsenal for 22 years between 1996 and 2018 and was the last manager who won the Premier League in North London, admitted that he was impressed by Paris Saint-Germain while giving his assessment of the draw.
“I would say that tonight we saw another Paris Saint-Germain,” the Frenchman told Bein Sports. 'Not led by possession and brilliant football, but led by a refusal to admit goals and to take advantage of the counterattacks and on set pieces. This has given them success tonight.
“I would say mentally that they were strong too. When they missed a penalty, they held it there. '
Speaking of his former side, he added: “On the other hand, we have seen the repetition of not being able to score goals with Arsenal.”
The only goal of Arsenal in the two-legged draw came after PSG captain Marquinhos collapsed too easily on the floor during a coincidental replacement Leandro Trossard.
The referee and VAR both agreed that Trossard Marquinhos had not polluted in the structure of the goal, where the Belgian was able to run through to set up Saka in the penalty area after the Brazilian fell on the floor.
“I would also say, I was surprised by Marquinhos' fault about the goal they admit. It could have cost them and could have done the goal – he is not completely back to his level. So they were also lucky.
“But in general you would say in the two games that they were better than Arsenal, had more opportunities and were never really in danger, so congratulations with Paris Saint-Germain.”
An emotional Mikel Arteta did not agree with Wenger, claimed that Arsenal was the best team in the Champions League during his interview after the game, despite the disappointing exit.
Prior to their semi-final defeat against PSG, Arsenal triumphed 5-1 on aggregated about Champions League holders Real Madrid with two stunning versions during the quarter-final phase.
“There has been no better team (than Arsenal) in the competition of what I have seen, but we are gone,” said Arteta.
“If you analyze both games, who have been the best player, the MVP, it was the same player – the goalkeeper,” he added, referring to Donnarumma.
'And the Champions League is decided in the boxes and it won the game for them because of course it should have been very different today after 20 minutes and whatever happened in London. So I can take a lot of positives and I am very proud of the team.
'But at the same time I am so upset, so irritated that we have not been able to do it. Today I saw how much they want it because they were in tears. '
Whether the best team lost, he added: 'I think so, yes. Especially in 180 minutes.
“I say that and she (the PSG bank) say that because they just told me that.”
Arteta also referred to the wealth of injuries that have risen by his side this season.
'They earn a lot of praise for what they do in the context of the situation and the amount of injuries, probably the worst state that you could arrive here as a team.
“To get here with a different context and still to do that, it gives me a lot of positives for the future, but tonight I am very upset.”