Mikel Arteta expressed deep disappointment after Arsenal's exit from the Champions League, despite praising his team as the best in the tournament. Arsenal lost 3-1 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain, with a 2-1 defeat at Parc des Princes sealing their fate. Arteta highlighted PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's crucial role in both legs, making key saves against Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.Arsenal generated an expected goals (xG) of 3.14, the highest against PSG this season in the Champions League. They also recorded 19 shots, their most in a knockout game since March 2016 against Barcelona. Arteta lamented missed chances, especially Saka's late opportunity, saying they should have led 3-0 within 20 minutes.Despite their efforts, goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi secured PSG's place in the final against Inter Milan. Vitinha missed a penalty for PSG, while Saka scored a consolation goal for Arsenal. Arteta acknowledged that Donnarumma was pivotal, stating, "When you look at the two games, their best player on the pitch has been the goalkeeper."Arteta expressed pride in his players' performance under challenging circumstances, including numerous injuries. He noted that Arsenal were often superior during both matches but acknowledged areas needing improvement to win such competitions. "There is something extra you need to go your way," he remarked about their missed opportunities.Arsenal has now failed to advance from their last four major cup semi-finals: the Europa League (2020-21), EFL Cup (2021-22), EFL Cup (2024-25), and Champions League (2024-25). This marks their longest streak of semi-final exits in major tournaments.

Our Champions League journey ends here. Thank you for your incredible support along the way, Gooners pic.twitter.com/a745BVRHQQ — Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 7, 2025

Arteta remains optimistic about Arsenal's future despite current disappointment. He emphasised learning from this experience and praised his team's resilience amid adversity. "I am very proud of the players," he said, highlighting their achievements despite difficult conditions and injuries affecting their squad depth.The Gunners' manager stressed that understanding why they fell short is crucial for future success. He believes addressing these issues will help them progress further in upcoming competitions and ultimately achieve victory on bigger stages like the Champions League final.