When you look at the two games their best player on the pitch has been the goalkeeper, he has been the difference for them in the tie. We were very close, much closer than the result showed but unfortunately we are out. I am very proud of the players.
“After 20 minutes it should have been 3-0. There is something extra you need to go your way in the competition and it didn’t. We were very close and for long periods of both games we were much better than them but we are not there and that has to hurt.
“If we want to win this competition we have to realise that. There are certain things that are on us. You shouldn’t just be understanding we are out. That is not the way I look at it.
100% I don’t think there’s been a better team [than Arsenal] in the competition from what I have seen, but we are out. This competition is about the boxes and in both boxes are the strikers and the goalkeepers and theirs was the best in both games.
Arteta sounds deluded when he says things like that. If Chelsea and/or Spurs win the Europa Conference or Europa League, Arsenal won’t even be the best team in London this year, let alone Europe.
We gave it a proper go. We started the game really well. We were on the front foot, had the momentum, a few big chances but in the end it wasn’t enough. Between the boxes we did well inside the two over the two games we weren’t good enough. Credit to their goalkeeper who made amazing saves. It wasn’t enough and that’s painful.
“In the boxes, especially today what we did with the ball between the boxes we dominated the ball and took the control of the game from the start. We were not strong enough in the boxes and that’s where we lost it.
“It’s painful, we wanted to do the big thing, a big goal in the league and the Champions League. Massive disappointment but we have to stay strong and together. Take the lessons, take the pain and use it to come back stronger.
“We have to learn from this. We did a lot of good things but it’s not enough. In front of goal is where games are decided and that’s where we have to be sharper. We have to use this pain in a good way.
The mentality question with Arsenal is real. Even most of us fans didn’t expect us to overturn PSG but we actually played really well, exceptional in fact, but somehow we didn’t score when we really needed to early on. I said it before we must stand together and have a big summer and address the striker issue and a couple of other top players. Actually a Proud Gooner today, doing what we have done with the adversity we’ve had this season. Stand tall Gooners, we march on and collectively we must believe which we will do with some major squad strengthening
I don’t think Arteta should be worried at all for his job, we got the furthest we have in a Champions league for my entire lifetime and played well. We were just beaten by one 6’6” beast between the sticks who basically saves every shot without massive intervention.
Difficult to take for Arsenal. Another semi-final they end up losing. It’s becoming a little bit of a habit which is not great.
It just didn’t happen for them in this game.
PSG, out of all the Champions League teams I’ve seen this season, they’re in a special moment at this club.
There’s a real feeling from me that this is going to be their time.
