Arteta Concedes Arsenal not at PSG Level after Champions League Final Loss

Mikel Arteta admitted Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are the best team in the world after Arsenal lost the Champions League final on penalties on Saturday.

The final finished 1-1 after extra time at the Puskas Arena, PSG then held their nerve to win 4-3 in the shoot-out and secure a second successive European crown.

Arteta said he felt only "pain" after the match, but conceded Arsenal were below PSG’s level, with the French champions dominating possession throughout even though the Gunners won the Premier League this season.

"I want to congratulate PSG, Luis (Enrique, the coach) in particular, because in my opinion they are the best in the world.

"What they are able to do with the ball, with individual actions, I haven’t seen it before. It’s not just a plan for when you don’t have the ball, they force you into that. So even more praise to the players," Arteta told reporters.

Arsenal had less than 25 per cent possession but defended resolutely against sustained PSG pressure.

Kai Havertz gave the Gunners an early lead before Ousmane Dembélé equalised from the penalty spot in the second half.

Dembele’s goal took PSG to 45 goals for the campaign, equalling the Champions League record.

Arteta was unhappy that Arsenal winger Noni Madueke was not awarded a penalty with the score at 1-1, but said his team must improve if they are to win Europe’s top prize.

This was Arsenal’s second Champions League final appearance, 20 years after their 2006 defeat by Barcelona in Paris.

In nearly seven years in charge, Arteta has restored Arsenal to the summit of English football, ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title.

Nonetheless, Arsenal's Manager insisted more progress was needed: "The same progression that we had in the last few years, we’re going to have to do that over again, and the level is increasing every single season.

"You have to go through that pain, digest it and turn it into fuel to improve and to reach a different level, because it demands a different level with the quality that is around Europe," he said.