The claim by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta that the best team lost their semi-final against PSG certainly raised eyebrows, even among the most faithful Arsenal supporters. Despite losing 3-1 on aggregate to the French champions, Arteta boldly stated his side were unmatched in the Champions League. Piers Morgan was quick to dismiss Arteta's assertion as "Delusional twaddle," as voiced on X.
He added: "Arteta should stop pretending we’re the best team in Europe when we’re not even the best team in England… and we will never win big trophies until or if we sign a proper world class striker. Everyone knows this." And PSG boss Luis Enrique, while remaining diplomatic given his friendship with Arteta, also firmly disagreed. Enrique responded: "I don't agree at all. Mikel Arteta is a great friend but I don't agree at all. I think they played in a clever way and they got the match to the right moment for them because they played in the way they want and love to play.
"But I think in the two legs, we scored more goals than them and, in football, that is the most important thing. I have to say, Arsenal played a great match and we suffered a lot. I think it's a match where we suffered the most. I think we deserved to get to the finals."
Despite recognising Arsenal's strength, Enrique reiterated: "They are a great team as well but I repeat, we scored more goals and we played in a great way in the first leg and in the second half in the second leg. It was a different match and we could score even more goals."
PSG boss Enrique acknowledged the brilliance of Gianluigi Donnarumma as he quipped: "How are you going to win a Champions League without a great goalkeeper? Today, Gigi was phenomenal, as he was in every qualifying round, like against Liverpool."
The triumph against Arsenal adds to PSG's impressive scalps this season which include Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa, propelling them into a Champions League final face-off with Inter Milan in Munich on May 31.
Enrique couldn't help but tease English sceptics who look down on France's top division, jesting with a grin: "The league of farmers, no? We are the league of farmers. But it's nice. We are enjoying the result and the compliments of everybody speaking of our team - our mentality, how we play. It's nice."
Despite goals from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi cushioning PSG's lead to 3-0 on aggregate, Arsenal's Bukayo Saka netted a response although it ultimately wasn't enough, leading to Arteta’s claim: "I don't think there has been a better team in the competition ... but we are out."
PSG player Joao Neves joined the fray, opposing Arteta's view: "Arsenal are a very strong team with lots of individual quality. But I think we were the better team."
PSG initially teetered on the edge of early elimination after losing three of their preliminary five matches, yet they rallied spectacularly, not least when they dispatched Pep Guardiola's Man City in January with a stunning 4-2 victory, rejuvenating their Champions League journey.
Enrique stated: "The turning point could have been the match against Manchester City in which we were losing 0-2. But in the group stage statistics, we were among the best in Europe. We are fair finalists.
"It means a lot. Everybody was dreaming of getting to a Champions League final and our first goal when we arrived in Paris was to make history and we are on the right path."