Jamie Carragher hits out at Mikel Arteta over ‘nonsense’ claim about Arsenal

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher hit out at Mikel Arteta over a ‘nonsense’ claim he made about Arsenal following their Champions League exit.

Arsenal’s impressive Champions League run, which included a sensational quarter-final victory over reigning champions Real Madrid, was ended by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.

PSG won 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium and Arteta’s side were unable to produce a comeback in Paris, losing 2-1 at the Parc des Princes to exit the Champions League and go a fifth season without a trophy.

Speaking after the defeat, Arteta claimed Arsenal had been the better team across the two legs and even suggested the Gunners had been the standout side in this year’s Champions League.

‘When you look at the two games their best player on the pitch has been the goalkeeper, he has been the difference for them in the tie,’ Arteta said.

‘We were very close, much closer than the result showed but unfortunately we are out. I am very proud of the players. After 20 minutes it should have been 3-0.

‘We were very close and for long periods of both games we were much better than them but we are not there and that has to hurt.

‘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.’

But ex-England defender Carragher said Arteta’s assertion that Arsenal have been the standout team in Europe this season was ‘nonsense’.

Carragher also took issue with a recent interview in which Arteta falsely claimed Liverpool had ‘won the league’ with less points than Arsenal have amassed over the last two seasons.

‘Winning trophies is about being in the right moment in the right place,’ Arteta said ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against PSG.

‘Liverpool have won the title with less points than we have in the last two seasons. With the points of the past two season we have two Premier League [titles].’

Already on 82 points, Liverpool could still surpass the 89 points Arsenal achieved last season and the 84 they reached in 2022-23.

‘When a manager speaks straight after the game he’s obviously still emotional,’ Carragher said on CBS Sports.

‘I’ve seen another interview where he said he feels Arsenal have been the best team in the Champions League this season on what they’ve done. That’s nonsense, they’re not.

‘He said something similar the other day about Liverpool’s points tally. He’s just an emotional manager at the moment.’

PSG prove too strong for Arsenal

Needing to overturn a one-goal deficit to advance to the Champions League final, Arsenal flew out the traps in Paris but were denied on more than one occasion by the inspired Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Fabian Ruiz’s superb goal midway through the first half eased the PSG nerves and they appeared to put the tie to bed when Achraf Hakimi scored a second on 72 minutes.

Arsenal did rally and score their first goal of the tie through Bukayo Saka but PSG were good value for their win and will now face Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Reacting to the heartbreaking defeat, Gunners captain Martin Odegaard said: ‘We gave it a proper go.

‘We started the game really well. We were on the front foot, had the momentum, a few big chances but in the end it wasn’t enough.

‘Between the boxes we did well inside the two over the two games we weren’t good enough. Credit to their goalkeeper who made amazing saves.

‘It wasn’t enough and that’s painful. Massive disappointment but we have to stay strong and together. Take the lessons, take the pain and use it to come back stronger.’

PSG will meet Inter Milan in the May 31 final after the Serie A giants beat Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in an all-time Champions League classic.

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