Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits heart was racing as CSKA Moscow came close to overturning Europa League tie

Arsenal won 4-1 at the Emirates last week but Wenger said that three-goal margin effectively worked against his team in a nervy second leg, which finished 2-2

Arsene Wenger’s team eventually saw off CSKA Moscow (Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger admitted that CSKA Moscow “made his heart beat quicker than expected” during a close run Europa League quarter-final second leg. Arsenal were 2-0 down in the second half, one goal from elimination, before two away goals won them the tie, and Wenger conceded that this was a far closer game than he had been expecting.

Arsenal won 4-1 at the Emirates last week but Wenger said that three-goal margin effectively worked against his team here because it meant that they could not bring their top motivation, similarly to how Barcelona lost 3-0 to Roma on Tuesday and were knocked out after winning their own first leg 4-1. Arsenal had spoken about avoiding a repeat of that, but for much of this game it looked as if they were heading in that direction.

“We played against a good team, CSKA Moscow,” Wenger said. “I knew that after the first game, and they showed that again tonight. They were mobile, technically good, gave us many problems. They made my heart beat much quicker than I expected it to.”

Wenger pointed to the 4-1 margin as being a factor in his team’s poor performance here. “You could see that when you have a big difference from the first game, it is difficult to turn up with the same urgency than if the difference is very small,” he said. “That played a part in the way that we played in the first half.

“Looking at all the results as a whole picture in Europe this week, you would say that in Europe maybe teams have come closer, and games have been very open, and that everything is possible in every single game.”

Wenger said that he could not decide who he least wanted to face in the semi-finals, which will be drawn on Friday.

“Everybody speaks about Atletico Madrid, they look strongest on paper from now on,” Wenger said. “But you must say as well, that the results that Salzburg have done as well. And I am from France, Marseille are in there as well, always a difficult place to go. Maybe it’s better I don’t wish for anybody and just wait for the draw tomorrow.”