Our CL record under Wenger

[Offside]

Arsene Wenger likes to boast about Arsenal's successive seasons of qualifying for the Champions League. It is a measure of the diminished expectations that this line is parroted by his followers amongst the fans and the media, as if it is a success in itself but look at our record in the CL:

1998/99 - eliminated at the group stage after failing to beat Lens and Dynamo Kiev.
1999/00 - eliminated at the group stage
2000/01 - eliminated in the quarter-finals by Valencia
2001/02 - eliminated at the second group stage
2002/03 - eliminated at the second group stage
2003/04 - eliminated in the quarter-finals by Chelsea (a team we had beaten three times that season)
2004/05 - eliminated in the last 16 by Bayern Munich
2005/06 - runners-up to Barcelona
2006/07 - eliminated in the last 16 by PSV Eindhoven
2007/08 - eliminated in the quarter-finals by Liverpool
2008/09 - eliminated in the semi-finals by Man Utd
2009/10 - eliminated in the quarter-finals by Barcelona
2010/11 - eliminated in the last 16 by Barcelona
2011/12 - eliminated in the last 16 by AC Milan
2012/13 - on the verge of another last 16 exit

In focusing on his years of CL qualification, I think Wenger has been given a free pass about his dreadful record in the actual competition. He couldn't win the CL when he had the CWC '94 back five + Bergkamp, Overmars, Petit, Vieira and Parlour. He couldn't win the CL when he had a team that was crushing all-comers in the PL (Henry, Pires, Ljungberg and co.) and our performances in the competition have been getting steadily worse. Some of our most embarrasing defeats have come in the CL. All Wenger's qualifying record for the CL tells me is that he's had 15 cracks at the competition and he STILL hasn't worked out how to do it right.

[mcdowell42]

been saying for a long time tht our cl record is disgraceful,1 final in 16 successive seasons dismal.Its all about the money.

[northbank123]

It is a dreaful record - bearing in mind that these things are cyclical and there's only ever a handful of teams capable of winning the thing.

We failed to sufficiently take advantage of:
- Periods of domination for English football (2005-2009)
- Periods of domination of Arsenal (particularly 2002-04).

1 final and 1 semi in 16 seasons is very poor considering how many shite teams there are in there every year. Fact is AC Milan are the only 'top' team we've beaten in knockout competition full stop in the last 7 seasons. Piss-poor.

[Perryashburtongroves]

When you think that we're the only English team that has played in it for a considerable period of time and not won it, have never beaten another English team in it, have reached one final, been beaten by some pretty average- poor sides over the years and have never really looked like winning it after 16 bloody years, it is a shit record.

[mcdowell42]

We just need someone to come on here and post its not about winning but the joy of visiting new stadiums and different countries

[northbank123]

When you think that we're the only English team that has played in it for a considerable period of time and not won it, have never beaten another English team in it, have reached one final, been beaten by some pretty average- poor sides over the years and have never really looked like winning it after 16 bloody years, it is a shit record.

In some ways one measure of how well you're performing against where you should would be to compare the number of times you've knocked out a superior team to the number of times you've been knocked out by an inferior one. Doesn't make great reading for us, although other than "years qualified" not much does for us.

[hugh jardon]

We just need someone to come on here and post its not about winning but the joy of visiting new stadiums and different countries

Also known as "The Europa League"

[mcdowell42]

We just need someone to come on here and post its not about winning but the joy of visiting new stadiums and different countries

Also known as "The Europa League"

the possibilties are endless id say theres certain people wanking over the thought of visiting some east european beauty spot not bothering whether we win our not ,just as long as they can say they were there

[clockender1]

that defeat at home by the chavs in 2004, was in hindsight the beginning of the end for us.

they outmuscled us and defended stoutly if memory serves. Paddy went missing (did he even play ?)

the first time a lack of plan B appeared in N5.

i wonder if that's the game that haunts AW, cos i really thought that was our year, much more than 2005, or 2006.

[MK Gould]

By far the worst thing about our record is that we didn't win it when we had the best team in Europe....and I think criticism of Wenger for that is fair.

But it's difficult to criticise a manager who has got us past the Group Stage 13 seasons on the trot. Or a manager who has got us qualification into the supposed "holy grail" of a competition 15 seasons in a row....

And although the CL gets some stick on here - especially the Group Stage - there really is something magical about going to see us play in the San Siro, Nou Camp etc.

[northbank123]

As I recall Lehmann spilled a speculative effort from Makelele straight back out and they equalised - first goalkeeping error I could remember him making (although he'd managed to cost us several goals by virtue of his dodgy kicking).

[clockender1]

And although the CL gets some stick on here - especially the Group Stage - there really is something magical about going to see us play in the San Siro, Nou Camp etc.

and Highbury of course...

[Dan_85]

there really is something magical about going to see us play in the San Siro, Nou Camp etc.

Debatable. If you enjoy visiting the same group of 5/6 stadiums over a half-decade cycle then I guess it's OK. At least in the groups and the EL you get to go to some slightly different places....

[I Hate Hleb]

that defeat at home by the chavs in 2004, was in hindsight the beginning of the end for us.

they outmuscled us and defended stoutly if memory serves. Paddy went missing (did he even play ?)

the first time a lack of plan B appeared in N5.

i wonder if that's the game that haunts AW, cos i really thought that was our year, much more than 2005, or 2006.

I remember us being in almost total control of the first half and should probably have been more than the one goal up. Once Chelsea scored the nerves set in and the premonition that I'd had a few weeks earlier that - despite us being the better side at the time, they'd somehow knock us out - sadly came to fruition.

[Herd]

Barring the teams that have actually won it in this time that record looks impressive !
To suggest that our CL record is disgraceful is absurd .
Some of you really need to move on or move out because you whine like sniveling cuckolds !