Vieira admits Gunners are lagging behind
Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira admits the Gunners still have “a long way to go” before they can view themselves among the cream of Europe.
Vieira was hugely disappointed after Bayern Munich knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League to prevent the Gunners reaching even the quarter-finals.
He said: “As a team and as a club we are frustrated. We have not improved because we have been knocked out in the quarter-final or before again, but that’s the way it is and we have to try to finish the season as best we can now.
“We know that we are not the best team in Europe and we still have a long way to go.”
Vieira paid tribute to Bayern’s canniness over the two legs and said Arsenal had paid the price for losing 3-1 in Germany a fortnight ago with Wednesday’s 1-0 win at Highbury not enough.
He added: “When you look at the two games Bayern were in control really and their experience showed.
“I don’t have a solution, I’m just a player and try to give the best for the team like everyone else.”
Arsenal’s German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann believes he may have pinpointed one reason why the Gunners struggle at this stage of the competition – he says English clubs are at a disadvantage in the knock-out stages of European competition because they do not have a winter break.
Lehmann said: “The German teams always have the advantage after the winter break that they are physically quite strong and we don’t have it here and to compare it on a physical basis we have a disadvantage.
“Of course it would help, mentally and physically it’s very important, just 10 days, 20 days to have a break.
“I don’t like to complain but when you see who has been out – Gilberto, Edu, Sol Campbell – it is difficult for us.
“We defended very well here playing with two very young defenders and other inexperienced guys, the most disappointing thing was the first leg when we just gave them some presents and that’s why we are out.”
