Arsene Wenger says the Europa League is more competitive than ever with a number of Europe’s biggest clubs still in the mix this season, however, he admits he’d still rather be in the Champions League.
Last season’s failure to finish in the Premier League top four meant Arsenal failed to qualify for UEFA’s top competition for the first time in the Frenchman’s long tenure.
It had been hoped that improvement on the domestic front would mean a quick return to Europe’s top table but with league form awful, the only tangible chance of that happening is to win the Europa League; a tall order given the other clubs involved.
Asked about the difference between the two competitions before Arsenal’s Europa League second-leg last-16 clash with AC Milan, Wenger said:
“Look, I want to be in the Champions League. But the Europa League is very strong this year. On a par? Well, look at Milan, Dortmund and Atleti. There are many good teams.
“This competition is at a higher level than ever.
“Anything can run against you we just have to produce a performance that is expected from us. The competition is very tight.”
Should Arsenal successfully overcome Milan on Thursday, we’ll find out our opponents in the quarter-final on Friday.
If there is anyway to get back to the champions league and deny the team comes 4th (please be Spunts ???). We need to support the shit out of it. We have the team, we have the ability and I know most of you can’t admit it but we also have the manager.
You want Chelsea to win the CL then? That’s the only way…
I’ve changed my wish to a complete capitulation of Man U to end up 5th my hate for Mourinho is actually stonger than my dislike of spunts.. I forgot they let in 5 premier league teams into the champions league this year.
Wouldn’t the top 4 chances of qualification not be affected by whether or not we win the Europa? Or am I mistaken?
There’s a limit of five teams per country, so 4th being denied would mean Chelsea winning the CL + us winning the EL + both finishing outside the top 4.
Makes it all the more sweeter if we go all the way! Come on boys!
Like alot of people I had us down to get thumped by Milan, I guess I bought into their hype too much and I loved being wrong. This season will be much harder for us then it was for those jammy manc twats last season, they essentially had a free route back to the CL. That said, wouldn’t it be typical/awesome if we won it in style and AW resigned off the back of it. It is still very possible.
Turning the corner
“we just have to produce a performance that is expected from us”
Hmmm, which is..?
It certainly seems a lot tougher than last year when ManU won it!
After all these years that we were in CL, the traditional favourites and teams that eliminate us from CL like Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid seem weaker this year. That any of the previous years, we would have had better results against those teams if they were in similar situation.
We even seem more weaker if you’ve been watching us closely.
Barcelona weaker? Really?
Better be mentally prepared for a massive f*ck up the Arsenal way. Most likely outcome, we concide 2 Goals within the first 15, get a goal in the 70th minute, then lose 3-1 after they counterattack in the 90th minute or a stupid penalty in overtime.
We’ll be lucky if we finish with all 11 on the pitch by fulltime…
That’s the spirit!
jw1
Poor thinking
one game at a time. the only way to lick this.
“Anything can run against you we just have to produce a performance that is expected from us.”
I really wish his ‘rallying cries’ were a bit less passive and dispassionate. I can’t help but think this is why we’re so often caught out with slow starts.
Thankfully that was not the first leg and hopefully we can keep that rolling through the second.
I know Arsene has to say it but it’s not really that tough. Milan are a big club but not a great side as we’ve seen. Dortmund not as strong as they were. (& probably going out)
Realistically, Atletico are the only really top team in it. (apart from us if we can find form)
It’s certainly their’s to loose. Would be an epic final. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.