Arsenal full-back Carl Jenkinson has admitted that it is "frustrating" for his side to have potentially once again passed up the opportunity to win their Champions League group.
The Gunners currently sit level on points with Paris Saint-Germain in Group A, but their 2-2 draw against the French champions on Wednesday night means that PSG are above them courtesy of a superior head-to-head record.
PSG will now go into their final match at home to Ludogorets Razgrad knowing that a win would take them through as group winners, leaving Arsenal to once again settle for second place.
The Gunners have been handed difficult draws in the last 16 in recent years after finishing second, but Jenkinson did point out that they were still in a better position than North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who were knocked out of the competition on Tuesday.
"It is not easy to get through to the last 16. Tottenham have obviously seen that and we have done well to get to this point. It is frustrating that we are sitting in second but that is the rule and you have to take it on the chin," he told reporters.
"You can look at it as a tough night. It is always going to be, playing against a top team. I think we played well, the head-to-head rule is very frustrating, I'm not a fan of that and I think it is a shame.
"We have held our own and are joint top at the end of the day, the only thing that is holding us back is the head-to-head rule, which is frustrating when you look at our superior goal difference and it counts for nothing. We are through to the last 16 anyway and the way the competition goes, you can get drawn against anyone, you never know who you are going to get drawn against."
Arsenal have failed to make it into the quarter-finals for the last six seasons.
Barney Corkhill
