Arsenal's Champions League dreams were shattered on Wednesday night as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes.
The Gunners, already trailing 1-0 from the first leg, conceded goals to Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi.
Bukayo Saka scored a consolation for the visitors, but it wasn't enough to prevent a 3-1 aggregate loss.
PSG will now face Italian Serie A giants Inter Milan in the Champions League final on May 31st.
Mikel Arteta insisted the best team lost after Arsenal's defeat to PSG
Reuters
Mikel Arteta has sparked controversy with his post-match comments, claiming Arsenal were the superior side despite their elimination.
The Spaniard boldly stated: "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."
He insisted Arsenal were "much better" than PSG over both legs of the tie.
Arteta told TNT Sports: "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."
The Arsenal manager elaborated on his team's performance, claiming: "After 20 minutes it should have been 3-0."
He added: "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."
Arteta maintained that Arsenal were "very close, much closer than the result showed" to progressing.
He also suggested that "there is something extra you need to go your way in the competition and it didn't."
Arteta's comments have been met with mockery on social media, with fans branding his interview "delusional".
PSG won 3-1 on aggregate over Arsenal, winning the first leg 1-0 at the Emirates before a 2-1 win in Paris
Reuters
One fan wrote: "His interview after the game was delusional. There was no way arsenal were the better team over the 2 legs."
Another described it as "totally embarrassing" and "cringeworthy".
"Arteta's interview showing what a horrible, arrogant, deluded wee p***k he is. Hahahahahahahaha jog on you loser," tweeted one particularly harsh critic.
Others simply called it "comedy gold" and "embarrassing".
LATEST NEWS STORIES:
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka had a late chance to equal the scores on the night but missed
Reuters
Arsenal will now turn their attention back to the Premier League as they prepare to face Liverpool at Anfield this weekend.
The Gunners must quickly recover from their European disappointment as they continue their domestic campaign.
Despite the Champions League exit, Arteta expressed pride in his players, saying: "They deserve a lot of credit for what they are doing in the context of the situation and the amount of injuries."
He added: "To come here with a different context and still do that, it gives me a lot of positives for the future."
