MX23RW : Friday, December 20 06:40:24| >> :120:27640:27640:

Arsene Wenger: 'Champions League has lost its sparkle'

Arsene Wenger: 'UCL has lost its sparkle'
© SilverHub
Arsene Wenger insists that only a small proportion of Champions League fixtures are worth watching as the competition has 'become too routine'.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that the Champions League has "lost some attraction power" in recent years as only a handful of group games are now worth watching.

The Gunners missed out on qualification for European football's elite-club competition this term for the first time in 19 years after finishing fifth in the Premier League last season.

Viewing figures have dwindled in Britain since BT Sport won the rights to air the premier competition, and Wenger believes that is because some of its lure has been lost over time.

"I think that, in the group stage, there are not many interesting games. [It has become] a routine," he told reporters. "You choose only one or two games. Look at the audiences. It has lost some attraction power."

Arsenal are competing in the Europa League this season, kicking their campaign off with a 3-1 win over FC Koln at the Emirates Stadium earlier this month.

ID:308042: cacheID:308042:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1546:
Written by
Daniel Lewis
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Mesut Ozil looks forlorn during the Premier League game between Arsenal and Bournemouth on September 9, 2017
Read Next:
Mesut Ozil to join Inter in January?
>
Read more about Arsene Wenger Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Broncos
@
Chargers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!