Former Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has disagreed with Mikel Arteta's claims that the Gunners deserved to go through to the Champions League final.
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Arsenal crash out of Champions League against PSGArteta claims Gunners were the better sideWenger refutes Spaniard's claimsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Arsenal travelled to the Parc des Princes after a 1-0 loss at the Emirates to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie. While Arteta's side somewhat dominated the early stages of the game, it was Les Parisiens who opened the scoring on the night in an eventual 3-1 aggregate win. Luis Enrique's side have now set up a date with Inter in the Champions League final.
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Despite the comfortable win for Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal boss Arteta claimed after the game that the Gunners deserved to go through to the final instead, as his side were better than Les Parisiens across the two legs. However, Arsenal legend Wenger has now disagreed with the Spaniard's claims as he said that Luis Enrique's side were 'never really in danger' of losing the tie.
AFPWHAT WENGER SAID
Speaking to beIN SPORTS, Wenger said: "I would say tonight that we've seen a different Paris Saint-Germain – not guided by possession and brilliant football, but guided by refusing to concede goals and taking advantage on the counter-attack and on set-pieces is what gave them success tonight. I would say that mentally they were strong as well. When they missed a penalty, they did hang in there.
"On the other hand, with Arsenal, we saw the recurrence of being unable to score goals… Overall, in the two games, I would say they were better than Arsenal, had more chances and were never really in danger, so congratulations to Paris Saint-Germain.
"I said a long time ago that Paris Saint-Germain will not be far away from winning the Champions League and let's not forget: they are maybe the only team who can have the perfect season because they can win the Champions League, win the double in France and the Club World Cup. That would be an extraordinary success for Luis Enrique."
WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
Glory in the Champions League was Arsenal's last hope for silverware this season after having fallen well short of Liverpool in the Premier League and also having lost in the FA Cup to Manchester United. Arteta's place as head coach is now being questioned by fans, however, it is likely that he will be given another season to try and bring a trophy to north London.
