Arsene Wenger called on Uefa to scrap the away-goals rule which accounted for both Arsenal and Chelsea in this year’s Champions League.
Wenger has been fighting for some time with European football’s governing body to abolish a rule he claims is outdated and actually promotes the defensive tactics it was designed to deter.
‘It’s not a debate I want to create because we lost,’ said the Arsenal boss. ‘We were not good enough and we have to accept that. The rule is the rule and we have to be better than the rule.
‘But I think the modern game has changed. This rule was created in the 1960s to encourage teams who just kicked people away from home because it was not on the television, to attack instead.
‘Since then it has changed. This is not the case any more. Barcelona goes to Manchester City, and they play like they play at home.
‘The super-defensive football has gone and I don’t think it will come back. The weight of away goals is too big. What it does today is to encourage the team at home not to attack. You protect your clean sheet because it becomes vital. So it encourages more defensive football in some situations than offensive football.’
Wenger — who would support the introduction of the system used in the Capital One Cup semi-finals, where away goals count but only after extra time — has a more pressing problem, with Theo Walcott asking for a significant pay rise if he is to sign a new contract.
Talks over a new deal have begun with Walcott nearing the final year of his contract. The forward earns around £90,000 per week, but he will ask for a sum significantly north of £100,000 per week before agreeing to an extension.
It remains to be seen whether the Gunners will meet the demands but his current position in Wenger’s plans may provide an indication.
Since returning from a long-term injury, Walcott has struggled for regular football, with the likes of Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all vying for a slot in Wenger’s four attacking positions.
Arsenal top-earners, Sanchez and Ozil, pick up in the region of £140,000 per week and the club are unlikely to offer Walcott anything near that, particularly given his lack of games.
His wage demands could lead to another drawn-out contract saga, similar to the discussions for his existing deal which nearly saw him leave. Liverpool and Manchester City will be monitoring Walcott’s situation closely ahead of a potential summer move. – Daily Mail