Champions League – Round of 16: FC Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal FC
Arsenal left the Champions League early this season with a quick exit in the first knockout round. But they did not lose yesterday any chance in the Champions League this year but during the group stage starting with 3 defeats. Then the Premier League title, which after several disappointing results, is almost now unreachable. And, finally the FA Cup lost at home against Watford for a spot in the last four.
We do not have the answer but does it seem this year more than others Wenger could leave Arsenal. It might be the year where a change is made but would it be? Many questions remain regarding the future of Arsenal and which team will be on the pitch next season.
Arsene Wenger comments on the loss:
on the performance…
It was a team performance and the quality was good. I’m disappointed with the result but we played against a team with the best strikers I have seen play together. It is exceptional, they can make chances from nothing. We could not take our chances to [find] a second goal that would put us in a strong position tonight but after they scored and it was 2-1, our belief was less than when it was 1-1. We had chances and Barcelona are an exceptional side.
on competing with Europe’s elite…
I could give you all the stats if you are dramatic enough to read the stats. They showed that we suffered but that should not be considered game by game. In football, you look the last game and you look at the positives. We have gone out in the last six years to top sides who won the Champions League after. On one occasion we lost to Monaco but the others are always against Bayern Munich or Barcelona.
on if he has any regrets…
We could have taken the dangerous situations we created. Barcelona, going forward in the final third with the quality of passing and creativity, Messi was absolutely exceptional. He went for 90 minutes and came out of the game without missing a first touch, no matter where the ball came from. Barcelona have two or three players who can transform normal life into art.
