Like Arsene Wenger, Mikel Arteta remains a nearly man at Arsenal after Champions League failure

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Mikel Arteta was within sight of becoming a paid-up member of one of the most exclusive clubs in football. Just the 12th recruit to that elite group of managers who have conquered Europe on behalf of an English team.

His name would have been etched into footballing folklore alongside those belonging to Matt Busby, Brian Clough, Bob Paisley, Sir Alex Ferguson, Tony Barton, Joe Fagan, Rafa Benitez, Roberto Di Matteo, Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Pep Guardiola.

Beating Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest would have changed Arteta's life forever. Along with his reputation - and standing in the game.

It would have elevated him above Arsene Wenger, who most people regard as Arsenal's greatest ever boss. But just like Wenger before him, Arteta still hasn't got his hands on the biggest prize of all.

Arteta staking his claim to all of the accolades mentioned above has to wait. Because he has become the latest proof of just how damned hard this competition is to win. The one which still defines genuine greatness, when it comes to judging those managers deserving of a place in the pantheon of the best.

Clough isn't remembered for winning league titles with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His genius remains measured by those back-to-back European Cup titles he once claimed.

Paisley preceded him with the same achievement, then won a third crown in 1981 before Barton led Aston Villa to the trophy the following season (with a lot of help from Ron Saunders).

In a remarkable and unprecedented run of success, English sides won the European Cup six times on the trot, between 1977 and 1982.

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But the thing changed, because no English team managed to win it again in the next 16 years. Until Fagan did on behalf of Liverpool, although English clubs did get banned from Europe for five years in the wake of the Heysel tragedy.

Fergie won it just twice in almost 27 years of unprecedented success at United - but still needed some astonishing fortune in both the Barcelona and Moscow finals to emerge triumphant.

But for two stoppage time goals in the Nou Camp and luck siding with United in a shoot out, Fergie wouldn't have ever won the European Cup.

For John Terry in 2008, now read Gabriel.

While the great Guardiola has just brought the curtain down on a decade of dominance at Manchester City, but could still only land the big one once. He spent mountains of money attempting to climb Everest, but kept on slipping before eventually reaching the summit.

Like Arteta will have to do now, Guardiola had to suffer the most painful of defeats first, before managing in Istanbul what he'd be hired to do in the first place.

But right now, Arteta and his team will be left licking wounds which will take a long time to heal.

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He was within 26 minutes plus stoppage time from the holy grail of club football. Something which would have guaranteed him instant iconic status.

His lack of trophies since taking charge in 2016 can no longer be questioned, having lifted Arsenal's first league title in 22 years. Nothing and no-one will ever be able to take this from him.

But if Arteta wants to etch his name into Arsenal folklore, he has to win the greatest title of the lot - and conquer Europe.

History has proved this is much easier said than done - as Arteta now knows this to his cost. His team lost one game in the entire competition - and still didn't lift the trophy.

Leaving Arsenal still wearing the tag of being the biggest club in Europe never to do so.

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