Despite PSG’s Aggregate Victory, Arteta Insists Arsenal Dominated—But Stats Tell a Mixed Story”
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has dismissed Mikel Arteta’s suggestion that Arsenal were the superior side in their Champions League semi-final clash, despite the Gunners’ boss claiming even PSG’s staff admitted it after the match.
Arsenal’s European dreams came to a crushing end after a 3-1 aggregate defeat, leaving them without a trophy this season. But Arteta stood by his team’s performance, insisting they controlled the game—a sentiment he says PSG’s bench acknowledged.
“Mikel Arteta is a great friend, but I don’t agree at all,” Enrique told BBC Sport. “They played cleverly, but we scored more goals over two legs—that’s what matters in football. Arsenal are a great team, and we suffered, but we deserved to reach the final.”
While Arteta may have felt his side dominated, the statistics paint a more nuanced picture. In the second leg at the Parc des Princes, Arsenal held more possession (54.1%), took more shots (19 to PSG’s 11), and even recorded a higher expected goals (xG) tally (3.14 vs. 1.74). However, their finishing let them down, with only four shots on target compared to PSG’s six.
The Gunners’ struggles in front of goal were evident across both legs, raising urgent questions about their need for a top-class striker this summer. For now, though, it’s PSG celebrating a place in the final—while Arsenal are left to wonder what might have been.
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