Arsene Wenger eyes away goals rule change after Arsenal and Chelsea suffer Europe defeats

The Gunners boss spoke ahead of his side’s trip to Newcastle this weekend, which comes on the back of a 3-3 aggregate defeat to Monaco in the last-16 of Europe’s elite club competition on Tuesday.

City crashed out last night to Barcelona and Chelsea lost to PSG 3-3 on aggregate last week, while Liverpool failed to progress out the group stage.

But Wenger insists the failures of English clubs this season is not indicative of a long-standing problem within the national game - and in fact suggested a change should be made to the away goal ruling.

Both Arsenal and Chelsea lost out on away goals and Wenger said: "I think it’s the first time in 19 years (that an English team failed to make the last eight) so I don’t think we can draw general conclusions from that.

“I think it’s the first time in 19 years (that an English team failed to make the last eight) so I don’t think we can draw general conclusions from that.

“Two teams have gone out on away goals but I think that should be questioned because it’s a rule that is outdated now and that has to be changed and I’ve fought for that for a long time.

“In direct knockout it’s important that you’re very efficient, a bit lucky sometimes as well, and none of the teams apart from Barcelona looks to be superior in Europe today. I think two other teams could have gone through and Chelsea and Arsenal.

“It should count maybe after extra time. This rule has been created in the ‘60s to favour attacking play away from home. Since that football has changed.

The weight of an away goal is too big today. I still think you can count it after extra time like it is in the League Cup in England.”