Mikel Arteta reiterated his strong stance, insisting that despite being eliminated from the Champions League, Arsenal was, in fact, the competition`s best team. He directly challenged Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique to “look at the stats.”
Enrique had previously mocked Arteta for his bold claim that his team was superior to the side that ultimately progressed to the final in Munich, especially given Arsenal`s 3-1 aggregate defeat in the semi-finals.
The Arsenal manager, in a manner reminiscent of Rafa Benitez`s famous “facts” press conference, firmly defended his earlier statement. “I stand by what I said, 100 per cent. I`ve watched the matches again and analysed all the statistics,” Arteta stated.
“When you examine all the crucial statistics, the ones that provide the most solid foundation for winning football matches, it`s absolutely clear who performed better,” he asserted.
He added, “With an expected goals (xG) figure of five for us against three for them over the two legs, you would typically find yourself in the final.”
Arteta`s emphasis on statistics echoed the approach taken by then-Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez during his well-known 2009 press conference where he listed `facts` to challenge Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson.
“If you play against PSG and they utterly dominate you, you shake hands and admit, `We`re still not ready`,” Arteta commented.
“But when you face them directly and press them as intensely as we did there, you were the superior team.”
“However,” he conceded, “football isn`t just about the probability of winning; it`s about actually converting those probabilities into results.”
Despite his strong defense of the Champions League performance, the Gunners` chief did acknowledge that Liverpool “deserve” to be crowned Premier League champions, admitting that his own side has taken “a step backwards” in the league this season.
Arteta had previously drawn criticism for suggesting that Liverpool`s potential title-winning points tally (which could reach 91) was fewer than the points totals Arsenal achieved in the previous two seasons – 89 last term and 84 in 2022-23 – both times finishing as runners-up to Manchester City.
“It`s accurate,” he stated. “With the points totals we accumulated, we could have been champions twice over. But we weren`t. In the Premier League, we`ve taken a step backwards. Liverpool rightly deserve to be champions.”
While the prospect of his team forming a guard of honour for Liverpool at Anfield will undoubtedly be difficult, the Spaniard understands it`s a necessary act for his players.
It serves as a stark reminder of how close they came and the need to find deeper reserves of determination to reverse the situation next season.
Another season marked by near misses has clearly affected Arteta, leaving him wounded by the experience.
It has now been five years since the Spanish coach watched his players lift the FA Cup at an empty Wembley – the “Covid Final” victory over Chelsea feeling like a distant memory.
Since that time, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea have all secured silverware, while Arsenal has repeatedly fallen short when it mattered most.
Being mere spectators at Liverpool`s probable title celebration at Anfield will undoubtedly underscore this point, as Arteta well knows.
He described the aftermath of the PSG tie: “Paris was a profoundly emotional moment. It was one of the most disheartening, yet also one of the moments I felt most proud as Arsenal manager.”
“We invested immense hope, energy, and effort into that, and we didn`t achieve the desired outcome. You have to experience such setbacks to grow stronger and improve, and that`s what we are doing.”
“We are generating the metrics that typically lead to winning titles. We need to be slightly more fortunate or simply perform better in key moments.”
“Again, considering our performance in the Champions League and the statistics, there was a high probability of winning the competition. That`s why many believed we could go all the way.”
“Those two words, `success` and `failure,` are not part of my everyday language,” Arteta stated.
“However, not winning trophies deeply bothers me because I love winning and absolutely despise losing.”
“If it doesn`t hurt, then it means you don`t possess the same passion for winning that I do, that`s for sure.”
Some Arsenal supporters fear Arteta might become another North London manager known for getting close but falling short – a taunt often directed at Mauricio Pochettino`s Spurs during their period of local ascendancy when they couldn`t secure silverware.
Arteta, along with his “trust the process” philosophy, largely retains the support of the Emirates faithful. However, the manager wants his players to share the same level of disappointment as the traveling fans will feel after Sunday`s match.
He added, “Liverpool have demonstrably been the best, the most consistent team this season. When another team is superior, you must acknowledge, applaud, and strive to reach their standard.”
“Something needs to drive you, motivate you, and perhaps the pain of not winning is a valuable tool for that.”
“When you face something you don`t truly want to do, but it`s the necessary action, it often serves as strong motivation for the following season.”
“We cannot win the Premier League; that reality is clear now. But in these final days of the season, with three games remaining, we must ensure we play with pride and compete intensely until the very end, in a manner befitting our capabilities.”
For many Arsenal fans and outside commentators, the club`s failure to address the clear need for a proven striker in the January transfer window proved to be exactly as costly as widely predicted.
When pressed on this point and the fact that Mohamed Salah`s goal tally for Liverpool has been a significant difference-maker in the title race, Arteta became somewhat defensive.
He questioned, “Did I need to express that more clearly in January? Was it not already obvious?”
“If you score over 90 goals in a season, you have a very high probability of winning the Premier League,” he stated.
“It doesn`t offer a guarantee, but the likelihood is high, especially if your defensive record is also strong and reliable.”
Arsenal Ratings vs PSG
Arsenal`s hopes in the Champions League were dashed as they failed to overcome Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg.
The Gunners started aggressively and tested Gianluigi Donnarumma early, but from the outset, it seemed destined to be a frustrating night. And so it proved.
Despite the initial pressure, Arsenal found themselves behind after a volley from Fabian Ruiz.
Achraf Hakimi then quickly added a decisive second goal, moments after David Raya had briefly kept Arsenal in the tie by saving Vitinha`s penalty.
However, Bukayo Saka, who had struggled against his old adversary Donnarumma all night, finally beat the Italian in the 76th minute. Capitalizing on a deflected cross, he rounded the keeper and finished into the net.
With the deficit on the night halved, Saka soon had a golden opportunity to level the score, finding himself unmarked in the centre with an open goal.
But the winger was unable to keep his shot down, sending his effort well over the crossbar.
PSG then comfortably managed the remainder of the match to secure their place in the final against Inter Milan in Munich.
Here is how SunSport`s Jordan Davies rated the Arsenal players in Paris:
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“Naturally, there aren`t many players who consistently score that many goals in the Premier League, so I must improve in that area and work with the players we currently have,” Arteta continued.
“Now is not the appropriate time to start judging individual players.”
Arteta also acknowledged that this scrutiny applies to himself. He stated, “I have so much I still want to achieve and do. That ambition is what drives me every single day.”
“The only path to achieving what you desire is by maintaining exceptionally high standards and demanding the same from yourself and others.”
“We are incredibly close to realizing our goals. I understand the disappointment and the criticism; it`s an inevitable part of the process.”
“Ultimately, there is only one winner, and all the others will fall short. Therefore, they must adapt, learn, and perform better.”
“But I have absolute faith in these players and their commitment and attitude.”
“I know how deeply they are still hurting from the defeat – now we must demonstrate our fighting spirit and show how much we care about the current situation.”
“And demonstrate our determination to achieve what we still aim for, which is a significant goal that we haven`t yet accomplished.”
