IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Monaco v Arsenal Preview: Wenger's men must make Champions League history
By Dom Farrell
Mar 16, 2015 07:19:00
No team, with the competition in its current format, has ever progressed needing more than one away goal, with the Gunners looking to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit
Arsene Wenger has urged his Arsenal players to believe in the prospect of an improbable Champions League turnaround at Monaco on Tuesday.
The Premier League club endured a humiliating 3-1 defeat when the sides met in the first leg of their last-16 clash at Emirates Stadium last month.
No team in the Champions League era has progressed going into the second leg of a tie needing to score more than once away from home to avoid elimination.
Barring this unprecedented comeback, Arsenal will exit at the first knockout round for a fifth consecutive season, but their form since Monaco's triumphant night in London offers plenty of reasons for encouragement.
Danny Welbeck returned to haunt his old club with an FA Cup quarter-final winner at Manchester United on Monday and Saturday's 3-0 derby victory over West Ham United was a fifth consecutive league success that closed Wenger's men to within a point of out-of-form Manchester City in second.
"We now go to Monaco and come out of a big week because we played at Man United, we played a derby," Wenger said. "We need belief to prepare well so let's do that.
"After that we'll see. If you have no belief, you have no chance. We have to believe we can do it and give everything.
"We know this time Monaco are favourites so we have to go there, give absolutely everything and come back out of the game with that feeling."
Wenger has a selection quandary in attack, where he must choose between Welbeck and Olivier Giroud in the central striking role.
France international Giroud was the subject of much scorn following a nightmare performance in the first leg, although his goal against West Ham was a sixth in seven outings.
Monaco should be in a similarly buoyant mood to Giroud and Arsenal following a 3-0 Ligue 1 win over nine-man Bastia on Friday, where Anthony Martial bagged a brace.
Leonardo Jardim's men can also be bolstered by a miserly defensive record that saw them keep three clean sheets in their home group matches this season - results that extended an unbeaten European run at the Stade Louis II.
Andrea Raggi (knee) and Tiemoue Bakayoko (hamstring) are both sidelined for the hosts, while Wenger is without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain due to an ankle problem.
Monaco's Lacina Traore (broken leg) is a long-term absentee, as are Arsenal trio Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta (both ankle) and Mathieu Debuchy.
Atletico Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen: Rolfes plays down prospects in Spain
15 March 2015
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Simon Rolfes insists the Bundesliga team remain the underdogs in their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid.
Hakan Calhanoglu scored the only goal in last month's first leg at the BayArena, giving Roger Schmidt's side a slender advantage over last season's beaten finalists.
On Friday, they enjoyed ideal preparation for the second meeting with a 4-0 win over struggling Stuttgart.
Rolfes has urged his team-mates to retain such attacking intent at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday, but is happy to play down their prospects.
"We're in a great position to reach the next round [of the Champions League]," he told the Bundesliga's official website.
"We're not the favourites but we can't allow ourselves to defend the whole time. We've got to make Atletico Madrid’s life really difficult."
Atletico have only twice overturned a 1-0 away leg deficit in UEFA competition, but a formidable record of 20 wins in their last 22 European outings on home turf offers plenty of encouragement.
For Diego Simeone and his players, the match represents a welcome break from their faltering La Liga campaign after Espanyol held the reigning champions to a third consecutive draw at the weekend.
The Argentinian coach remains defiant over his team's form, though.
"We have not lost anything because the season is not over yet," Simeone said.
"It is true we are finding it hard to score, but more worrying would be to not have any chances. I am happy with their work.
"Now it is time to regroup, to wait for Tuesday's game, and to keep working. That is the only path we know."
Calhanoglu came back into the Leverkusen line-up last time out having missed his first matches of the season earlier this month due to a knee complaint. Fellow midfielder Lars Bender (ankle) has been sidelined for the past three games.
Defender Diego Godin and midfielder Tiago Mendes are suspended for Atletico. Key man Koke is back having missed the first leg due to a hamstring problem, while Cristian Ansaldi - an unused sub against Espanyol - could make his first appearance since November following an ankle injury.
Borussia Dortmund v Juventus: Klopp would welcome dramatic conclusion
16 March 2015
Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp says he would welcome a dramatic conclusion to his side's UEFA Champions League last-16 clash with Juventus.
The Bundesliga side fell to a 2-1 defeat in Turin three weeks ago, with Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata scoring either side of an 18th-minute Marco Reus effort.
The result leaves Dortmund needing to beat Juve on Wednesday, but the German side have suffered defeat in their last three home meetings with the Serie A giants.
"I don't know if it needs to be exciting until the end, but if it gets dramatic, that means we are still in the race at that point – and that would be positive," Klopp told UEFA.com.
Until that first-leg clash with Juve, the Champions League had been a rare source of positivity for Dortmund, who spent the first half of their domestic campaign battling at the bottom end of the table, but Klopp insists he never questioned his side's playing style.
"Well, it's okay to ask questions [of yourself], but not to put our system into question," he added. "It's not as dogmatic as it may seem: the players are not told to give the ball to the opposition so we have a chance to win it back – that's just nonsense.
"Even in the first part of the season there were a few good games, and we gained some confidence in the Champions League by winning matches.
"So we are not like a rabbit in the headlights, just standing there, shivering, unable to perform."
Meetings between Dortmund and Juve have been relatively rare, but the last one before the first leg of this tie proved memorable for the former, as Karl-Heinz Riedle scored twice and Lars Ricken was on target in a 3-1 triumph against Juve in the 1996-97 Champions League final.
Dortmund's name has not been engraved on the trophy since then, with their Wembley defeat to Bayern two years ago the closest they have come.
Juve's wait has been longer - the Italians were the holders when Dortmund won it - and Massimiliano Allegri will be without the services of the influential Andrea Pirlo after the midfielder failed a fitness test on Monday.
Martin Caceres is also sidelined having undergone ankle surgery last week, while Dortmund are unlikely to risk Kevin Grosskreutz (hamstring) and Nuri Sahin (groin).
Barcelona v Manchester City: Failure to qualify no disaster, says Pellegrini
16 March 2015
Manchester City swap Burnley for Barcelona on Wednesday needing to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit to book their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Manuel Pellegrini's men were beaten 1-0 at Turf Moor in the Premier League on Saturday - their third defeat in four matches in all competitions.
That run started with the home loss against Barca in this competition and, with a turnaround at Camp Nou unlikely, Pellegrini appeared to be getting his excuses in early.
"Manchester United in all of that great era under [Alex] Ferguson only won two Champions Leagues," he said. "Real Madrid went 32 years without winning the European Cup.
"It is important to be there in the later rounds but you can't think that not being there is a disaster."
After falling behind to two goals from Luis Suarez at the Etihad Stadium, City pulled one back through Sergio Aguero in the 69th minute.
However, Gael Clichy was sent off five minutes later and the hosts had a lucky escape when Lionel Messi saw a stoppage-time penalty saved by Joe Hart.
"You can talk about tactics and technique but if you go a man down against Barcelona, you're put in a terrible position," he added. "It is not a disgrace to get knocked out by them.
"Their squad, if it is not the best in the world, it is the second best. No other team can put together Leo Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez but I want to play them with 11 and if they knock us out then let that be because they were better than us."
Barcelona, meanwhile, face a pivotal week in their season, with the visit of Clasico rivals Real Madrid to look forward to just four days after hosting City.
But speaking earlier this week, coach Luis Enrique said: "This will be a very nice week with two games in front of our fans, but it is not the most important.
"We're going into the Clasico as leaders and in perfect form. But first we have to focus on City because qualification is at stake. Then we'll see what happens at the weekend."
City lost 2-0 at Camp Nou as they fell to a 4-1 aggregate defeat at the same stage last season, and have never made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Barcelona's Martin Montoya sustained a fractured cheekbone in a 2-0 win at Eibar on Saturday, while Sergio Busquets (ankle) missed training this week.
City have Clichy suspended, but welcome former Barca midfielder Yaya Toure back from a three-match ban.
Relentless Premier League challenge hurts Manchester City in Europe, says Dzeko
Mar 16, 2015 12:09:00
EXCLUSIVE: Manuel Pellegrini's men are up against it in the last 16 as they seek to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Barcelona, while the striker reiterates that he is happy to stay
By Jasmin Ligata
Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko believes that the Premier League's relentless toughness hinders its teams in the Champions League.
The reigning English title-holders were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona in the first leg of their last-16 tie, leaving their hopes slim of progression, while they are six points behind Chelsea on the home front despite having played a game more.
Dzeko feels that the Premier League's wider distribution of quality makes it harder for the big hitters to rest players in the top flight, robbing them of freshness when it comes to the European stage.
"In all the other leagues, there is too big a gap between the top teams and the others - there are one, two, maybe three teams fighting for the title," he observed to Goal. "In England there are six or seven teams that can become champions and, as well, teams from the bottom can beat the top teams.
"That is one of the reasons why English teams sometime fail in Europe. With the Premier League as the strongest league in the world, every match is hard. You cannot rest players, you always have to play full strength, while opponents in Europe can sometime rest some players in their domestic leagues.
"The first leg against Barcelona was very important," the forward noted. "We tried not to lose at home but we were not good, especially in the first half. In the second half, we played better, scored, had a few chances to score more and who knows what would have happened if we didn't receive the red card?
"Now we want to surprise Barcelona. It will be tight until the end; we want to play much better than in the first leg and we will see if it will be enough to progress."
Dzeko, behind at least Sergio Aguero in the strikers' pecking order at the Etihad Stadium and now facing competition from Wilfried Bony, has often been linked with an exit but the Bosnian is adamant that he is happy where he is, while vowing to keep pushing Chelsea in the title race.
"I've been at City for four years and all the time I listen rumours about my status, a transfer, a departure," he continued, "but I am focused only on City. I enjoy being here. The manager and fans trust me. I would have scored more this season if it weren't for injuries.
"We will pressure Chelsea until the end and hope we can catch them."
Monaco face the Gunners in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday, with the Portuguese coach high on confidence
Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim says their 3-1 win over Arsenal in February was purely down to the quality of his side rather than the Gunners underestimating the Ligue 1 club.
Goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco sealed a shock win at the Emirates in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.
The two sides go head-to-head once again on Wednesday, with Monaco strong favourites to advance to the quarter-finals, and Jardim was again keen to talk up his team's result three weeks ago.
The Portuguese coach said on Tuesday: "We will approach this game like we did for all the other Champions League games this season. We will not think about the result, just to play.
"At this stage of the competition, all teams behave the same way. I do not think Arsenal underestimated us. It was us who played a great game in London."
That said, the former Sporting boss added that the game remains a hazardous one for his players.
"When we face a team like Arsenal with a wide range of great players we do not take it lightly. We must try to put our game up, like in the first match."
Dimitar Berbatov, who used to play for Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham, was praised for his performance at the Emirates and his coach admitted his experience marks him out as Monaco's key weapon.
Jardim said: "Berbatov is an important player for because he already played the Champions League. He has the maturity and experience."
Paris Saint-Germain's defeat of Chelsea last week means there could be two French clubs in the quarter-final draw and Jardim believes it shows the growing quality of Ligue 1.
"It's true that compared to previous years, the two French clubs have a good level. PSG showed the quality that has emerged France and at Monaco, too. We try to show the quality of work developed in France."
Rosicky out of Monaco clash but Gabriel returns for Arsenal
Mar 16, 2015 18:54:00
Along with the Czech playmaker, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains sidelined from Arsene Wenger's squad for the vital Champions League clash
Arsene Wenger has confirmed that January signing Gabriel is fit again and available for Arsenal's Champions League clash with Monaco, though Tomas Rosicky does not make the squad.
The Czech playmaker is suffering from illness and will play no part in the Gunners' bid to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit, but Gabriel, who joined from Villarreal, is included in the squad. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains sidelined.
With the squad otherwise unchanged from the side that hammered West Ham, and buoyed by the return of Gabriel, Wenger is confident his side can score the three unanswered goals they need to progress to the quarter-finals.
"Monaco are in a very strong position, but we have the experience, the desire and the belief we can do it - so let's give everything to do it," the French coach told reporters.
"We have to show a different face, but you need to embrace the challenge. They have a good side, but we are confident. We want to put things right [after the first leg].
"The statistics are against us. But we must do everything to make sure the statistics lie. But, even with a one per cent chance, we have to play our game."
Arsenal's trip to the Stade Louis II marks a return to Monaco for Wenger, who spent seven years in charge of the club from 1987-1994, though the veteran manager insists he will not be overawed by his homecoming.
"For me it is a bit special. But I have enough experience to make sense of things, and that is what is most important," he continued.
"My pleasure is to do the best I can. My biggest pleasure would be coming here without pressure, to see friends. But I have great respect for this club."
Juventus need luck in Champions League, says Lippi
Stefan Coerts
Mar 16, 2015 12:33:01
The coaching legend fears a tough task awaits the Italian titleholders and fears they have little chance of going far in the competition
Former Juventus coach Marcello Lippi has warned the Serie A champions not to underestimate Borussia Dortmund and believes that they will need luck if they are to win the Champions League this term.
The Turin outfit have one foot in the quarter-finals of European club football's elite competition after beating BVB 2-1 in the first leg at home, yet Lippi has little faith in their ability to go all the way even if they do eliminate the Bundesliga side.
"I am still convinced that Juventus are a bigger club than Borussia Dortmund globally," Lippi told La Stampa.
"But we should all realise that the current Dortmund are nothing like the team that struggled so badly two or three months ago.
"Juventus have dominated domestically in the past few years, but they now need some good results in the Champions League to continue their development.
"It takes to luck to go all the way in the Champions League among other things.
"But it is hard to see anyone outside of Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid winning it this term."
Juventus will be looking to join Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Porto and Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the competition, with the remaining round-of-16 ties to be completed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Simeone demands 'constant noise' from Atletico fans
By Joe Wright
Mar 16, 2015 21:07:18
The coach says he needs the Vicente Calderon crowd to get behind his side as they look to overturn their Champions League deficit against Leverkusen
Diego Simeone has told Atletico Madrid fans he does not want "a minute of silence" when his side take on Bayer Leverkusen at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday.
Atleti face Leverkusen in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 clash needing to overturn Hakan Calhanoglu's solitary goal from the meeting in Germany.
Simeone has urged the home support to roar their side into the quarter-finals, insisting his players must go out and attack Leverkusen rather than worry about conceding an away goal.
"They are a very verticle team, they play very direct. They have a lot of pace up front over the final few metres. We will have to counter these things that cost us so much in Germany," the coach told a press conference.
"If we don't concede but we don't score, it's no good. The objective is to win the game.
"I want a Calderon that is constantly noisy. I hope and want for there not to be a minute of silence at the stadium throughout the game."
Simeone says he has yet to tell his side precisely who will start the match, including strike duo Mario Mandzukic and Fernando Torres.
"I have not spoken to them. I will tell them on Tuesday when we get together," he said.
The Argentine also lauded the impact of Koke on his side's style of play, with the Spain international having missed the first leg at the BayArena.
"In footballing terms he is one of the best at reading the game," Simeone added.
"He has brilliant peripheral vision. When he is at his best we can play with more dynamism, not through physical speed, but mental speed."
Leverkusen are more than just Calhanoglu, says Schmidt
By Joe Wright
Mar 16, 2015 23:42:31
The midfielder, linked with Barcelona, scored the winner in the first leg against Atletico but his coach has urged the whole team to deliver "an extraordinary effort"
Bayer Leverkusen boss Roger Schmidt says there is more to his team than just the talents of Hakan Calhanoglu as they prepare to face Atletico Madrid.
The 21-year-old Turkey international, who has been linked with a possible move to Barcelona, scored a brilliant goal against the Spanish champions to seal a 1-0 first-leg win in the Champions League last 16.
Schmidt, however, says he wants to see "an extraordinary effort" from his entire team as they aim to book a place in the last eight at the expense of last season's beaten finalists on Tuesday.
"The result in the home tie was positive but we haven't done anything yet," he told a press conference.
"Hakan is one of 11 players and our strength is the whole team. On Tuesday we will try to play as a team. We were not favourites before the first match and now we can only think about the next 90 minutes.
"Atletico are still favourites and we have to make a big effort. We know Atletico are a strong side at home and a team with a strong mentality. We must keep cool heads, try to keep possession and look for quick counterattacks, like we did in our stadium.
"This is a big challenge. If we want to reach the next round, we will have to produce an extraordinary effort."
Diego Simeone has told the Atletico Madrid faithful not to allow their visitors a moment's peace at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday but Schmidt hopes to use the atmosphere to his own side's advantage.
"We will try to take advantage of the atmosphere and turn it into an extra motivation for us," he said.
Midfielder Karim Bellarabi, meanwhile, says reaching the quarter-finals would be an important achievement this season.
"We will play to win," the 24-year-old said. "We know it won’t be easy but we will try to do our best.
"The season has gone well for me but we would like to achieve more as a team and we will try to progress."
Manchester City can still progress to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, with full-back Pablo Zabaleta claiming "nothing is impossible".
City travel to the Camp Nou on Wednesday needing to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit if the Manchester club are to remain in the competition.
Manuel Pellegrini's men were completely outplayed by Barcelona at Etihad Stadium and City have since tasted defeat against Liverpool and Burnley.
Saturday's shock 1-0 loss at Burnley has dented City's hopes of retaining the Premier League title but Zabaleta believes a positive result in Barcelona can kick-start their season.
"We are going to play against one of the best teams in the world. It's not going to be easy, but nothing is impossible in football," the Argentina international said.
"You have to be ready for these moments. Things can change on games like this.
"You just have to move on to the next game and try to win it. That's what football is.
"It's good that the game [comes after] just three days. We need to recover well, go to Barcelona and see what we can do. Hopefully we can do it."
Monaco 0 Arsenal 2 (3-3 agg): Giroud and Ramsey goals not enough
17 March 2015
Monaco survived a real scare before reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals as a 2-0 defeat at home to Arsenal on Tuesday saw them advance on away goals.
Leonardo Jardim's side had done most of the hard work in this last-16 tie in the away leg three weeks ago, leaving the Emirates Stadium with a 3-1 victory.
But they were pressed back for much of the encounter at Stade Louis II, and fell behind in the first half when Olivier Giroud swept home to give Arsenal hope.
Substitute Aaron Ramsey fired in a second with a little over 10 minutes remaining, but ultimately it was not enough for Arsene Wenger's men.
It was a familiar story for Arsenal, who have bowed out at this stage in gallant fashion against Milan and Bayern Munich in recent years.
Wenger's side have now exited the competition at the first knockout round in each of the last five seasons while Monaco progressed to the last eight for the first time since 2004, when they went on to reach the final.
Monaco's ultimately successful plan to soak up wave after wave of Arsenal pressure became immediately evident, and the visitors' first chance came as Giroud headed Hector Bellerin's right-wing cross wide of goal.
As Arsenal continued to press forward, Laurent Koscielny struck the crossbar from close range as Monaco failed to deal with a free-kick, but the linesman's flag was raised for offside in any event.
Giroud broke the deadlock nine minutes before the interval, smashing the ball into the roof of the net at the second attempt after his initial effort was smothered by Danijel Subasic.
Arsenal almost had a second two minutes later, but Danny Welbeck's goalbound shot struck a prone Aymen Abdennour and squirmed wide of the right-hand post, before Alexis Sanchez tripped himself up in the penalty area, resulting in a harsh booking for diving.
In first-half stoppage time, Giroud and then Welbeck both threatened to double the visitors' lead as Arsenal went into the break in the ascendancy.
Arsenal continued to look the more threatening after the interval and Mesut Ozil saw a free-kick tipped over by Subasic, before fizzing a half-volley wide from just inside the area.
Arsenal felt they should have had an indirect free-kick when Subasic handled Fabinho's backpass, but the referee deemed the defender's intervention to have been unintentional.
With 11 minutes remaining, Ramsey gave Arsenal further hope with a fine right-footed finish.
Fellow substitute Theo Walcott saw his initial shot come back off the post and when Layvin Kurzawa's poor clearance fell straight to Ramsey, the Welshman rifled a shot low into the bottom left corner.
As Monaco wobbled, Subasic produced a fine save to claw out Sanchez's header at the far post, his crucial intervention sending the hosts through despite a first defeat on home soil in Europe this term.
Atletico Madrid 1 Bayer Leverkusen 0 (aet, 1-1 agg, 3-2 pens): Kiessling penalty miss proves decisive
17 March 2015
Stefan Kiessling's wayward spot-kick proved decisive as Atletico Madrid beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
Mario Suarez's first-half goal had levelled the tie before a scoreless second half and 30 minutes of extra time led to a nervy and error-strewn shootout, in which five efforts were missed.
Fernando Torres' cool strike put Atleti into the lead after their set of five, and Kiessling skied his shot way over the bar to settle matters in favour of last year's runners-up.
It was a dramatic ending to a match that saw Atleti quickly assert themselves in front of a raucous home crowd, but they were unable to capitalise on Leverkusen's early mistakes.
Atleti's wastefulness was nearly punished in the 10th minute as Karim Bellarabi jinked away from three challenges on the edge of the penalty area, before seeing his low effort was deflected wide.
The hosts – who were forced to replace goalkeeper Moya midway through the half – were soon back on the front foot and got their reward after 27 minutes.
Levekusen failed to clear a free-kick and Suarez – one of five Atleti changes from the first leg – fired home from the edge of the penalty area, albeit with a deflection off Omer Toprak.
Suarez went close to putting Atleti ahead in the tie with a curling 20-yard effort before the break, while Hakan Calhanoglu failed to apply the finishing touch to a late Leverkusen counter.
A cagey opening to the second half saw chances at a premium, with Arda Turan wasting the first sight of goal 24 minutes after the restart.
The Turkey international was unable to control his volley from an Antoine Griezmann cross, while substitute Raul Garcia was inches away from diverting a Koke free-kick beyond Bernd Leno soon after.
Leverkusen offered little going forward throughout the half and the Bundesliga outfit were grateful to their goalkeeper with nine minutes remaining as he got down well to save another Turan effort.
There was more attacking intent from the visitors early in extra time following the introduction of Kiessling, but again they needed Leno to keep them in the game as he made a reflex save denied Raul Garcia after 108 minutes.
And so to penalties it went, with both sides missing their opening efforts, before Griezmann and Suarez settled the hosts' nerves with smart efforts either side of Simon Rolfes converting.
An abysmal effort from Toprak flew over the crossbar to give Atleti the advantage, but a superb save from Leno to deny Koke brought the visitors back into contention.
Gonzalo Castro levelled things up with a confident finish, before Torres converted and Kiessling blazed over to give Diego Simeone's side a place in Friday's draw for the quarter-finals.
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."
Geoffrey Kondogbia hopes Monaco avoid Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after squeezing past Arsenal on away goals.
After a 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium in February, Monaco came into Tuesday's return leg at Stade Louis II as firm favourites to make the last eight for the first time since 2004, when they went on to reach the final.
However, they were pinned back for long periods by Arsenal, who found the net through Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey as the London club were 2-0 winners.
The visitors could not find the all-important third, however, as Monaco held on to progress.
"We refused to play. Arsenal had a good start - we were under pressure after the first goal," Kondogbia said.
"But we've qualified and that's what counts. We'll try and continue but I hope we'll avoid Paris in the next round."
"We gave our all," added Kondogbia's team-mate Nabil Dirar.
"Arsenal had come here to clinch their qualification and we clearly felt the heat after trailing 2-0, but we held strong.
"Arsenal played a great game. Congratulations to all the squad, qualification is here."
By Ben Hayward at the Vicente Calderon
Mar 18, 2015 00:30:00
The Argentine was pleased his back-up goalkeeper made the most of his opportunity when he was called upon to replace the injured Miguel Moya
Diego Simeone was delighted with the way Jan Oblak seized his moment in the spotlight to propel Atletico Madrid through to the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Goalkeeper Oblak started on the bench against Bayer Leverkusen but was forced on due to an injury to first-choice Miguel Moya midway through the first half.
He then became the centre of attention as Mario Suarez's goal levelled the tie at 1-1 on aggregate and meant it would be settled by a penalty shootout.
The Slovenia international saved Leverkusen's first attempt – from Hakan Calhanoglu – before watching efforts from Omer Toprak and Stefan Kiessling sail over his bar as Atletico edged through.
Simeone said: "Football is wonderful. You can never stop working because you can find yourself playing in the most important game [like Oblak did].
"I'm happy with the team's effort. We had many players out: [Diego] Godin, Tiago, Saul. The team made an enormous effort in a typical cup match against a rival that played with more intensity than most teams. After the goal we sought a second to keep us in the competition, but we knew how difficult it would be if we let one in."
"Moya's injury deprived us of a change in a very long match. Let's hope he recovers quickly."
Atletico's injury-list may have lengthened with striker Mario Mandzukic forced off with seven minutes to go of normal time.
Simeone added: "Mandzukic is proud. To take him off, he has to be broken. I saw he was struggling but he told me not to take him off and the truth is he showed fabulous intensity while he was on the pitch. We need him and we are very happy with his efforts."
The Argentine will watch Friday's draw with interest but insisted no side would want to face the hostility of the Vicente Calderon crowd.
"I loved the fans tonight. I'm here among the eight best teams in Europe again with Atletico and that gives me goosebumps. The fans can't imagine the strength they transmit to the players.
"We can't choose our rival [in the draw]. All of the teams are great sides. We have to be humble, wait and see who we get."
The defensive midfielder believes a more confident approach might have seen Leverkusen past Atletico Madrid after their shootout defeat
Simon Rolfes has claimed a lack of bravery and confidence from Bayer Leverkusen was the difference after their Champions League hopes were ended by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Atletico won the second leg of the last-16 tie 1-0 at the Vicente Calderon, matching Leverkusen’s one-goal victory in Germany, and it was the home side who held their nerve in a frantic penalty shootout to progress to the quarter-finals.
But skipper Rolfes believes it may have been a different story had his team taken the game to the 2014 finalists from the start.
"Overall, they were the more active team and we were not so confident from the first minute," conceded the 33-year-old to Sky Deutschland.
"If we had scored here it would have been incredibly difficult for Atletico. But we did not manage to do that and that was how it was for a major part of the match.
"Atletico pressured us. When we had possession we were never able to increase the speed of our play. They played long balls and were able to keep them better, meaning the match was often in our half."
Only five of the 10 spot-kicks were converted, with Stefan Kiessling's final effort clearing the bar to confirm Leverkusen's exit, and Rolfes admitted that a stronger approach from 12 yards may have made a difference.
"It is hard to analyse a match after a penalty shootout but maybe we were not brave enough in the penalties. That said, you also need some luck. It feels very bitter right now."
Sporting director Rudi Voller has sympathised with his players after the exit, and jumped to the defence of Hakan Calhanoglu after his weak spot-kick was easily saved by Jan Oblak.
"It is bitter to lose on penalties, it was a lottery after a hard fight," said the former Germany striker.
"Hakan usually takes penalties like that, he looks at what the keeper does first. This time it did not work, but we won't blame anybody. We had opportunities after his miss, too."
'The best team went through' - Mertesacker rues Arsenal's first-leg failure after Champions League exit
By Harry West
Mar 17, 2015 23:19:00
The Gunners made a valiant effort, beating Monaco 2-0 on the night on Tuesday, but had left themselves with too much to do after a poor performance in the home leg
Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker accepts that Monaco deserved their qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals after they survived a major scare to advance on away goals.
Monaco triumphed 3-1 in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium in February, leaving the Gunners with a mountain to climb in Tuesday's return fixture at Stade Louis II.
Arsene Wenger's side almost completed a remarkable revival, as goals from Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey sealed a 2-0 win on the night, but it was ultimately not enough due to the French team's away goals and Mertesacker was left to rue a poor first-leg display.
"I think the best team went through so they deserve it because they played much better in the first leg," he told ITV.
"We had to come back from a massive deficit. We played well today but it wasn't enough.
"That's the truth [Arsenal played a poor first leg] but you never know so you come here and try absolutely everything and, when you look at the game, we could have scored more than two.
"We don't look back at the first game - that was already over. We did our best but it wasn't enough.
"They deserve it. That's absolutely fine because away from home they played much better but we responded well today. We have to admit that our regrets go to the first game.
"You have one bad game in the Champions League and you are out. Even against a team that was underestimated by the public but they deserved it."
