Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insisted his side were the best team in the Champions League this season, even after their semi-final exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, the Gunners travelled to the Parc des Princes needing a comeback to reach their first Champions League final since 2006. However, goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi gave PSG a commanding 2-0 lead on the night. Bukayo Saka’s late goal reduced the deficit, but it was not enough as the French champions sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory to reach the final.

“We were very close, much closer than the result showed, but unfortunately we are out,” said Arteta.

“I am very proud of the players, 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 revealed that the mood in the dressing room after the match was sombre, with players in tears following the defeat. “I’m upset and so annoyed,” he admitted, frustrated that his side couldn’t turn the tie around despite creating several clear chances.

Asked about Arteta’s remarks, PSG manager Luis Enrique responded firmly, stating that his side fully deserved their place in the final against Inter Milan.

“Mikel Arteta is a great friend, but I don’t agree at all,” he added. “They played in a clever way and they got the match to the right moment for them because they played in the way they wanted, and the way they love. But in the two legs we scored more than them and that is the most important thing in football.

“Arsenal played a great match, and we suffered, but we deserved to get to the final. They are a great team, but I repeat, we scored more goals, we played in a great way in the first leg, and the second half of the second leg was a different match, and we could have scored even more goals.”