Arsenal would be better off in Europa League! Arsene Wenger makes shocking admission after Champions League failure
- Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League despite 2-0 win in Monaco
- It was 17th consecutive year of qualification and then failure for Arsenal
- Arsene Wenger feels he has a better chance of winning Europa League
- Arsenal manager was unhappy with the referee's performance on Tuesday
- READ: Wenger accused of disrespecting former club Monaco
- CLICK HERE for all the latest Arsenal news
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made the stunning claim that his side would be better off in the Europa League next season, after repeatedly failing to make an impact in the Champions League.
Tuesday night's 2-0 win in Monaco was not enough to prevent a last-16 exit as Arsenal lost out on away goals rule following their 3-1 first-leg defeat at the Emirates last month.
And Wenger, who has been in the competition for 17 straight seasons, says that his side might even be better away from the top-tier competition in future given their recent trend of exiting almost as soon as the knockout stages have begun.
Arsene Wenger had admitted that Arsenal might have a better chance of winning in the Europa League
Wenger's Arsenal side could only find two goals in Monaco on Tuesday, when they needed at least three
After repeated Champions League failure, Wenger has speculated about winning the Europa League in future
The third-placed team in each Champions League group - a fate that Wenger has never suffered - move into the Europa League rather than a total exit from Europe, and the Arsenal boss believes that might be a better silverware opportunity.
When asked if these early exits were eating away at him, Wenger replied: 'Yes, but we were eliminated by teams who reached the final. Maybe it would be better not to pass the group phase and play the Europa League than to be eliminated in the last 16. We would have more chances to win a title.'
When pressed for clarification, the Arsenal manager insisted this was meant to be a comment about the abrupt and unforgiving nature of the Champions League in its sudden-death phase rather than a serious realignment of ambitions.
Olivier Giroud opened the scoring for the Gunners as they looked to fight back from their first-leg defeat
Giroud celebrates putting Arsenal in front at the Stade Louis II to give the away side a bit of hope early on
Aaron Ramsey added a second goal for the Gunners but they could not find a third to send them through
The Welsh midfielder was a substitute on the night but came on to help Arsenal in their late charge
Wenger has never won a European trophy but perhaps the Europa League would offer a better opportunity
The Arsenal boss also told L'Equipe that he thought his team's performance was good but that they left themselves too much to do after a poor showing in London last month.
'The performance was good, it was a difficult task,' Wenger said. 'They surprised us in the first game because subconsciously we were too sure of ourselves.
'In the second half, we lacked a bit of freshness. I am very disappointed to be knocked out, of course, but I will remember a lot of positives from this game.'
Alexis Sanchez went down under the challenge of Nabil Dirar in the penalty area but was booked for diving
Wenger was unhappy with the performance of referee Svein Oddvar Moen (second right) during the game
Wenger made it clear he was unhappy with the performance of referee Svein Oddvar Moen during a first half where Arsenal could have won a penalty when Alexis Sanchez went down inside the area and the home side were allowed to commit multiple fouls with no bookings handed out.
'I think his (Moen's) first half was very poor,' Wenger said. 'I just told him at half-time that I was not happy with some decisions.'
The closest Wenger has come to lifting the famous trophy was Arsenal's final defeat by Barcelona in 2006
Wenger and his players watch on disappointed as Barcelona lift the trophy in Paris' Stade de France
VIDEO Jardim explains Wenger handshake snub
Most watched Sport videos
- Heartwarming moment NY Red Bulls players give their coats to mascots
- YouTuber buys Marcus Rashford's wrecked £700k Rolls-Royce
- Travis and Jason Kelce CLASH over who would win a drinking contest
- England manager Sarina Wiegman slams coach-player relationships
- Gareth Southgate comments on design change of new England shirt
- Fake clip claiming to show Swift and Kelce falling off a swing
- New York Jets star Sauce Gardner claims Jewish people 'run the world'
- Kate Abdo's partner broken speaks on Carragher's 'loyalty' joke
- A brawl erupts between Sydney Roosters and Rabbitohs fans
- NRL star Liam Knight dying his hair a very white blonde
- David Seaman on Southgate, England & EURO 2024
- Kelce dances to Taylor Swift's 'Bad Blood' on the golf course