Mikel Arteta believes Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are in "different worlds" to Arsenal, as the Gunners head coach described their epic Champions League semi-final first leg as "the best game I have ever witnessed".

Arsenal are locked at 1-1 at the halfway point in their last-four tie with Atletico Madrid, with whom they shared the spoils during a hard-fought opening leg at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Wednesday.

Just 24 hours earlier, PSG edged Bayern 5-4 in a thriller at Parc des Princes – matching the highest-scoring semi-final in European Cup/Champions League history, which was Eintracht Frankfurt's 6-3 win over Rangers in 1959-60.

Arteta felt the contrast in quality of the two semi-finals was due to a difference in freshness between the sets of players.

"Bayern-PSG is probably the best game I have ever witnessed on the quality of two teams, and especially the individual quality that the players deliver," he told reporters.

"I've never seen something like this. But when I look at the amount of minutes and the freshness of those players, then I'm not surprised.

"To deliver those moments of quality, you have to be very fresh, and the difference in the leagues and the way they compete is night and day, and you just have to see a lot of stats that have been recently around it.

"We are competing in two different worlds, so you cannot compare one part of that without giving any context to that. I don't think it's fair."

𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝘿𝘼𝙔

Fulham
5.30pm (UK)
Premier League
Emirates Stadium

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Before Arsenal and Atletico reconvene on Tuesday, the Gunners' focus shifts to their Premier League title charge, as they welcome Fulham to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Arteta's side can potentially move six points clear of second-place Manchester City, who do not play until Monday.

"We know that we can only focus on one game, and that game has enough difficulties and challenges that thinking in a different way is not going to be helpful at all," Arteta said.

"The players' reaction immediately after that is: 'Now it's Fulham, and now it's Fulham, and now it's Fulham' immediately in the dressing room. They know that.

"They will have time to prepare for Atletico Madrid, and after that, we will have more separation in games. We know that this very particular period and short turnaround, just focus on Fulham, and we will take care of the rest afterwards."