Per Mertesacker: 'Monaco deserve to go through at Arsenal's expense'

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has conceded that "the best team went through" as Monaco knocked the Gunners out of the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Arsene Wenger's charges dominated their Ligue 1 opponents and secured a 2-0 win at the Stade Louis II.

They were, however, unable to overturn their disastrous 3-1 first-leg defeat, and so went out on away goals.

Mertesacker told BBC Sport: "The best team went through. Monaco deserved it because they played much better in the first leg. We played well today but it was a massive deficit, and it wasn't enough tonight.

"Monaco deserve it and that's absolutely fine. They caused a lot of problems away from home. We have to admit that we regret the first game.

"But if we continue to play like that we'll do well in the FA Cup and the league. But play as badly as we did in the first game and you're out of the Champions League. Monaco deserved it."

Manchester City are now the last Premier League side standing in the competition, though they have to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Barcelona at Camp Nou.