Mikel Arteta Reaffirms Arsenal’s Status as ‘The Best in the Champions League’

Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta has reiterated his belief that his team has been the standout performer in this season’s Champions League, despite their semi-final exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. He acknowledged on Friday, however, that their domestic performance has taken a dip.

As he prepared for Arsenal’s match against Premier League champions Liverpool this Sunday, Arteta maintained his earlier statement that he hasn’t witnessed a club that has played better in Europe’s elite tournament this season.

“Absolutely,” Arteta affirmed to the press on Friday. “I’ve reviewed the matches and analysed all the statistics. We boasted the best stats and goal difference in the semi-finals, so it’s quite evident.

“But it doesn’t solely revolve around the chances of winning or how much you’ve deserved it; it’s about delivering results when it counts.

“When assessing the crucial statistics that typically provide a solid foundation for winning matches, it’s abundantly clear who performed better.”

Arteta revealed that Arsenal had made significant strides in the Champions League, noting that the second leg of the semi-final defeat was “one of the most heartbreaking yet proudest experiences I have had as Arsenal’s manager, for many reasons.”

The Gunners find themselves 15 points adrift of Liverpool, sitting just three points ahead of third-placed Manchester City and four in front of both Newcastle United and Chelsea in the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are also in the fight for top-five finishes as the season draws to a close with only three matches left.

“In the Premier League, we’ve taken a step back. The points we’ve accrued clearly indicate that our performance hasn’t matched last season’s, that’s a fact,” said Arteta, who believes Arsenal could have secured two titles under different circumstances.

In the two seasons preceding this one, the Gunners achieved over 80 points, a figure exceeding that of some championship-winning teams during the Premier League era. Currently, they have 67 points, compared to Liverpool’s 82.

Arteta indicated that Liverpool rightfully deserved a guard of honour from Arsenal’s players at Anfield on Sunday, viewing it as an additional motivation for the upcoming season.

“If someone is performing better, you must acknowledge and accept it, and strive to reach that level,” he stated.

The Spanish manager expressed Arsenal’s intent to finish the season strongly and “ensure that we end on a note that makes us proud, competing and finishing in the way we rightfully deserve.”