Wake up call: Champions League flop is a lesson to English clubs, warns Wenger

Arsene Wenger has warned English football to learn from its demise in this year’s Champions League after Arsenal beat Bayern Munich but slumped out of Europe.
The Gunners won 2-0 on the night in the Allianz Arena but were unable to overhaul the 3-1 deficit from the first leg.
They went out on away  goals, an agonising exit which leaves England with no representative in the last eight of the Champions League for the first time in 17 years.

No cigar: Laurent Koscielny scored late to set up a tense finish but Arsenal could not net again

Warning: Arsene Wenger says all of England's clubs crashing out is a massive disappointment

 

‘It is a massive disappointment for English football,’ said Wenger.
‘It’s a massive wake-up call for us to have Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal all out in the quarter-finals.

'The rest of European football has caught up with us and we have to take that into consideration about the way we think about the future of the Premier League.’

Arsenal were given hope of pulling off a remarkable victory when Olivier Giroud scored in the third minute and Laurent Koscielny got another four minutes from time.

But Wenger confessed there were ‘many regrets’ from the defeat in London against Bayern, rated among the favourites to win the competition, and in particular the crucial third goal late on scored by Mario Mandzukic.

‘We went close and I’m very proud of the performance of the team,’ said the Frenchman.
‘But I am very disappointed for everyone who follows Arsenal that we could not get a third goal.

'There was room to score and we have many regrets from the first game. Qualifying is about 180 minutes and for the first 90 we were not at our best.

‘Still, we felt it was feasible to knock Bayern out. We had a plan and we respected it. At least we have shown we have the quality to be there.

‘You could see the weight of that third goal we gave away with three minutes to go in the first leg. That was massive.

Gutted: Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, left, and Laurent Koscielny leave the field after their Champions League exit

Overjoyed: Giroud (right) celebrates the dream start as Aaron Ramsey (left) carries the ball back up the pitch

Sliding in: Javi Martinez (right) tries to nick the ball away from Mikel Arteta

Piling in: Neuer holds onto the ball to waste a little time after Koscielny netted the second

The final eight

Barcelona
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund
Galatasaray
Juventus
Malaga
Paris Saint-Germain
Real Madrid
The draw will take place on Friday

‘We were under pressure tonight because a bad performance could have been terrible for the morale of the team and our pride.
‘The regret I have is that there is potential in this team and we are out of a competition.’ Wenger refused to give details on his reasons for dropping his captain Thomas Vermaelen, one of five changes from the first leg.

He also left out goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and was rewarded with an excellent display from goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and his back four.

Frustrated: Mario Mandzukic shows his disappointment at a refereeing decision

Remonstrating: Arsene Wenge rages at the fourth official

‘We looked always in control and solid,’ said the Arsenal boss. ‘You cannot restrict a team like Bayern Munich to no chances at all at home.’

Bayern manager Jupp Heynckes said: ‘They came here wounded from the first leg which was not good for them and really motivated them.

‘I know European football. I have nearly had 150 games in European competition and I know a team like Arsenal has quality.’

Digging deep: Luis Gustavo (right) tries to dispossess Santi Cazorla in the middle of the park

Rough and tumble: Arjen Robben is sent flying as Kieran Gibbs slides in