ANTHONY CONSTANTINOU

TALKING ABOUT - ARSENE

WENGER LAUNCHES

STAUNCH DEFENCE OF

ARSENAL'S CHAMPIONS

LEAGUE RECORD

• Arsene Wenger defended Arsenal's Champions League

record on Wednesday night as Barcelona's Three Amigo's

heaped more European misery on the beleaguered

Londoners.

• The Gunners put up a valiant effort in the Nou Camp, but still

lost 3-1 on the night; Barca's deadly trio Lionel Messi, Luis

Suarez and Neymar all on the scoresheet.

• It means Arsenal have now crashed out of the Champions

League in the last 16 for six consecutive seasons after this 5-1

aggregate loss.

• There were some encouraging signs for the Gunners,

however, as they created a number of chances against Luis

Enrique's star-studded side.

• Nevertheless, the Gunners are still counting the cost of

another early European exit.

• But when asked about his side's Champions League record,

Wenger said: 'I'll give you the stats. We have to consider it

game by game. You look at the positives and negatives and

prepare for the next one.

• 'We have gone out against top sides, who went on and won

the Champions League after.

• 'Only on one occasion we were completely guilty, against

Monaco.

• 'The others were against Bayern and Barcelona twice.'

• When asked whether the result could help the Gunners in

their attempts to haul back Premier League leaders

Leicester, Wenger added: ‘'I think yes, I am pleased with the

performance.

ANTHONY CONSTANTINOU - ARSENE WENGER

LAUNCHES STAUNCH DEFENCE OF ARSENAL'S

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RECORD

• ‘The quality of our game was good. I felt from the bench at 1-

1 they were wobbling a little bit and a bit insecure. We could

not take the chance to score the second goal to put us in a

strong position.’

• Despite his positivity, Wenger couldn’t help but heap praise

on Barca, added: 'We are disappointed with the result but we

played a team with the best three strikers I’ve seen.

• ‘Well done Barca, they are an exceptional side. You must

admire art. They have two or three players with the ability to

transform normal life into art.'

• Meanwhile, Wenger revealed Mathieu Flamini’s 44th minute

substitution was down to a hamstring injury.

• Flamini looked less than happy about being substituted and

watched the second half of the game in the Nou Camp media

lounge rather than the dug-out.

• But Wenger play-down the flashpoint, saying: ‘I didn’t know

where he was. I’m not sure he was allowed on the bench.

• ‘He was injured. He had treatment after half-time. On a night

of great football I wouldn’t say that was the most important

thing about the game.’

• As yet another English club failed to progress in the

Champions League, Barca boss Enrique commented: ‘It’s true

in the last few years English sides are not achieving the

results we would foresee.

• ‘I was surprised because I didn’t know Manchester City were

in the quarter final. They have potential.

• ‘England love football. It is something to analyse but it is true

it seems difficult for them to keep up the level in European

football.’

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