sport

Lahm writes off Arsenal

Bayern Munich's Philipp Lahm has written off Arsenal's chances of reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals by dismissing them as no longer one of Europe's top clubs.

The two teams meet in Germany on Wednesday night, when Arsenal need to produce what would be a remarkable comeback from a 3-1 defeat in the first leg of their last 16 tie.

But Bayern captain Lahm does not think Arsene Wenger's side are a force to be reckoned with anymore.

"I'd say they are one of the better teams in Europe but right at the top level? I don't think so," said Lahm.

Bayern will join Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals if they knock out Arsenal while there could be no English club in the last eight for the first time since 1996.

"It is a surprise to have no English teams in the quarter-finals," said Lahm.

"They have a strong league and have gone far in the past but a lot of teams have caught up. We are here, Dortmund are here."

Update:

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