Uefa consider rule change which would help Arsenal amid Champions League exit

The Gunners would have been handed a kinder draw under proposed new rules

UEFA are considering a rule change for the Champions League amid the fallout of Arsenal’s Champions League exit.

The Gunners were unable to overturn their one-goal semi-final first-leg deficit as Paris Saint-Germain ran out 3-1 winners on aggregate to reach the Champions League final, where they will meet Inter Milan.

Arsenal had never before overturned a first-leg home loss in Europe, and their record extended to six failures on Wednesday night despite a strong start in Paris.

Mikel Arteta claimed afterwards that not only did Arsenal deserve to be finalists, they were also the best team across the whole competition.

While that verdict is up for debate, Arsenal could perhaps feel aggrieved at having to play the second leg away from home, which is considered a significant disadvantage.

The current Champions League format means that, despite Arsenal being seeded for the knockout stages, UEFA’s preference for an ‘open draw’ means the fixture schedule is not weighted in either direction.