Arsenal's Champions League Exit a 'Wake-up Call' for English Football Says Wenger: The Nightly EPL

Arsene Wenger has come out fighting after Arsenal’s exit to Bayern Munich by saying that English football has received a wake-up call with no Premier League sides in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1996.

Here’s what he said specifically:

“It’s a massive disappointment for English football because for many years we have not been used to this.”

“It’s a massive wake-up call for us and it means that the rest of European football has caught up with us. We have to take that into consideration when we talk about the Premier League in the future.”

However, I disagree with Wenger. I don’t believe it should be alarm bells ringing in the EPL. Yes, it’s disappointing that Manchester United and Arsenal exited in the round of 16, but both the Red Devils and Gunners were unlucky not to advance. Of course, European football has caught up to the Premier League. That’s why the UEFA Champions League is so exciting to watch. But it doesn’t mean that the Premier League is slipping. At this stage of the tournament, it’s a knock-out competition. Both United and Arsenal faced two of the best teams in Europe in Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

If anything, no Premier League teams in the quarter-finals of the Champions League should be more of a wake-up call for Arsenal than the Premier League especially if the Gunners don’t qualify for the Champions League at the end of this season.

Here are tonight’s Premier League news headlines:

Arsenal’s Champions League exit a ‘wake-up call’ for English football says Wenger — The Guardian
So Millwall will face Wigan for a place in the FA Cup final and a European spot — BBC Sport
Is the away-goals rule counterproductive? It achieves the opposite of what it set out to do — The Guardian
The Times defends its Qatari football scoop – ‘our story is true’ — The Guardian
Wenger praised Arsenal’s spirit after an agonising UEFA Champions League exit — Sky Sports
Andre Villas-Boas promises Spurs will show Inter no mercy — The Guardian
Chelsea face Monday FA Cup replay against Man Utd less than 48 hours after league game — Telegraph
FA Cup: Chelsea v Manchester United replay scheduled for Easter Monday — The Independent
Rafael Benítez expects Chelsea fans to blame him for fixture pile-up — The Guardian
Maracana may not be ready for England’s visit — The Independent
Carlos Tevez and Samir Nasri may leave as Manchester City plan clear-out — The Guardian
Carlos Tevez charged with driving while disqualified and without insurance — The Mirror
Wojciech Szczesny talent not in question, but mistakes cannot be ignored — The Independent
Cardiff City moves to assure fans over ‘red bluebird’ on club crest — Wales Online
Eamonn Dolan expected to take charge of Reading match against Man United — The Independent

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