OMNISPORT

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was magnanimous after bowing out of the UEFA Champions League on away goals to former club Monaco on Tuesday.

Trailing 3-1 from the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal almost pulled off a stunning fightback at the Stade Louis II.

Goals from Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey left them needing just one more in the final 11 minutes to go through, but Monaco held on to advance to the last eight.

It is the fifth season in succession that Arsenal have bowed out at this stage, and a disappointed Wenger was left to rue a poor first-leg display.

"It's always difficult to win by three goals," he told beIN Sports. "We have not taken every opportunity we've had tonight. 

"It was not realistic enough, especially after the first leg where we made ​​too many mental mistakes.

"When we look at the number of shots on target by Monaco in the competition and the number of goals, we say we can only congratulate them to be in the quarter-finals. They deserve their place. 

"Monaco have perfectly defended as they have done since the beginning of the Champions League. Again, we pay for our failures in the first leg, while the spirit and quality of play were there tonight."