Wenger - Early goals opened up Quarter-Finals
Arsène Wenger believes that offensive quality and early goals were the reasons for the attacking play which graced each of this week’s Champions League Quarter-Finals.
Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Villarreal was the lowest scoring game in a quartet of first legs which saw a total of 14 goals.
Last season only eight goals were scored at the same stage, 12 the season before that and only five in 2005/06.
In all four of this season’s matches there was a goal scored within the first 10 minutes and, speaking at Thursday’s pre-match press conference, Arsène Wenger suggested that the early strikes might have opened up the contests.
“In our game we were in a position where we were 1-0 down so we had to attack,” the Frenchman pointed out.
“Chelsea too were, very early, in a position where they had to try and open up, fight back and equalise. In the Man United game it was the same. In a way the history of the games decided more than the tactics.
“Also, all the teams who are in there have offensive quality.”
