Arsenal kept up the tradition by exiting the Champions League at the round-of-16 stage this year.

The Gunners’ humiliating 10-2 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich means it’s now seven straight years where Arsenal have been knocked out at the first knockout stage.

If any statistic proved how stagnant Arsenal have become under Arsene Wenger, it’s that one.

And there’s every chance the north London side won’t even get the chance to continue the yearly routine next season. Arsenal are currently sixth in the Premier League table, seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.

Arsenal fans can point to a host of reasons for their inability to compete in Europe.

Wenger being past it, tactically. Mesut Ozil not showing up in the big games. The squad simply not being good enough.

But Ozil believes the problem lies in the size of Arsenal’s squad, and the lack of depth in several positions.

Arsenal's bench vs Bayern's

Just take a look at Arsenal’s bench compared to Bayern’s in the second leg and you’ll quickly realise where Ozil is coming from.

Arsenal: Petr Cech, Kieran Gibbs, Gabriel, Lucas Perez, Mesut Ozil, Francis Coquelin.

Bayern Munich: Douglas Costa, Thomas Muller, Juan Bernat, Sven Ulreich, Kingsley Coman, Joshua Kimmich, Renato Sanches.

Ozil: Arsenal's squad isn't broad enough

"When you look at our squad, it's not as broad as Bayern's or Real Madrid's,” Ozil told the Daily Mail.

“In the Champions League, that's not enough, especially against big teams, because they have more breadth in their squad.

“I think the club know they need to strengthen But what's most important is the manager's opinion. He and the club will make the decision.”

Ozil: We weren't good enough

Ozil, who is locked in a long-running contract dispute at Arsenal, has been criticised for his performances this season.

And while the German acknowledges he wasn’t good enough against Bayern, he insisted that the performance of the entire team wasn’t up to scratch.

“Of course my performance wasn't top, neither was the team’s,” Ozil added. “In the first game, our first half was good. But then in the second half we collapsed.

“For offensive players it's hard when you don't have much possession and can't make your contributions.

“After the first game, I didn't have as much faith that we could turn it around. The defeat was bitter for me and the whole team.

“When every year you see the chance, think it's really possible against big teams and then have a big defeat, it affects me because I've always wanted to achieve big goals and always will. I wanted to win the Champions League.”

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