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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits his side were outclassed in their 3-1 loss to Bayern Munich and says it seems "impossible" to turn the Champions League last-16 tie around.
Eliminated from both domestic cup competitions and 21 points off the pace in the Premier League, Arsenal know the Champions League represents their only chance of picking up a first piece of silverware since 2005.
However, with Bayern in form that has seen them take a 15-point lead in the Bundesliga, it always seemed likely to prove a forlorn hope, and so it proved on a chastening evening at the Emirates Stadium.
"Let's not hide the truth. It will be very difficult and we will try to make the impossible possible," Wenger said.
"We will try to play like we do at home and try to change the score. The third goal makes it very difficult, but we will try."
Goals from Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller put the visitors 2-0 up by the 21st minute and although Lukas Podolski replied early in the second period, Mario Mandzukic tightened Bayern's grip on the tie with 13 minutes to play.
Wenger admitted that his team had been "a bit nervous", but said there was no shame in losing to a team who have reached the Champions League final in two of the previous three seasons.
"You have to give them credit for their class," he said.
"In patches in the first half, Bayern's play was of a different quality to ours.
"In the second half we were getting close and becoming dangerous, but then they changed and began to play more defensively, so it was difficult to create chances. In these moments, you have to insist very hard and try to persuade the players that success will come through our play.
"I still have confidence in my players and my team. Results like tonight show there is work to do."
Wenger also returned to the theme of Monday's pre-match press conference, when he had lashed out at British journalists over newspaper reports that he was close to agreeing to a new contract.
"You [journalists] have two missions - to give opinions and to inform people," he said. "When you give wrong information, you cheat people who buy newspapers.
"You can check [stories] with me, check with the club. But if you read something in the paper, you expect it to be true."
At the final whistle, Wenger disappeared down the tunnel without shaking hands with his opposite number, Jupp Heynckes, but the Bayern manager played down the incident.
"I haven't met him [Wenger] yet, but we met before the game and we know each other very well," he said.
"I've known him for many, many years and we have a very good relationship."
Heynckes singled out Mandzukic for praise, saying he "fought really hard", but warned that the tie was far from over.
"You can't afford to under-estimate an opponent," he said. "On the contrary, we have to approach the second leg as seriously as we did today so we can reach the quarter-finals."
Bayern will be without German international Bastian Schweinsteiger for the March 13 second leg, after he picked up a yellow card for a foul on German international team-mate Podolski that means he will incur a suspension.
"Of course, it's a shame to miss the return leg. I didn't want to commit the foul and give away the yellow," the midfielder told German television.
Schweinsteiger also accepted responsibility for the headed goal by Podolski in the 55th minute that gave Arsenal hope in the tie.
"I was marking Podolski for the goal, so the blame is on my shoulders," he said.
"I let him out of sight. It's my fault, but he's a mate of mine, so I guess it's OK. We still need to finish the job."


Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal were outclassed by Bayern Munich

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen challenges Bayern Munich midfielder Arjen Robben in their clash at the Emirates. Photo: AFP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Sport

Football

Manager Wenger admits they are facing exit after being outclassed at home by Bayern


Eliminated from both domestic cup competitions and 21 points off the pace in the Premier League, Arsenal know the Champions League represents their only chance of picking up a first piece of silverware since 2005.


Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal were outclassed by Bayern Munich

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Manager Wenger admits they are facing exit after being outclassed at home by Bayern

Manager Wenger admits they are facing exit after being outclassed at home by Bayern