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None could have expected that at this stage of the season every English team would have been knocked out of Europe’s elite competition but that’s exactly what’s happened.

From Liverpool’s group stage exit to Arsenal’s all to late flurry against AS Monaco it has been a season to forget for English footballs golden team’s.

Liverpool

A major achievement for a squad not tipped to make it into this seasons Champion’s league let alone to challenge for top place in England’s top division yet this is what Liverpool have done.

Their was an air of expectation around Anfield, with Liverpool’s rich history in this competition putting fire in the Liverpool fan’s heart’s, but their was a hesitation also, with the re-shuffling of the squad over the summer, qualification from the group stages would have been a big achievement and a great way for Liverpool to re-announce themselves in the competition, but it wasn’t to be.

4 of their 5 points came against Champions league new boys Ludogorets with the other of their 5 points coming against Basel, with only 5 goals being scored in their campaign it’s safe to say Liverpool’s return was far from breath-taking.

Chelsea

 Chelsea went into this year’s competition with a much stronger squad then last season with the addition of players such as Matic and Diego Costa giving them a much stronger look overall, and under the stewardship of José Mourinho big things were expected of the blue’s.

In the group stages they displayed everything you would expect of a Mourinho side, Solidity at the back and midfield and a hard working unit with the speed of player such as William the technical skill of players such as Oscar the flair of Eden Hazard and the strength of Drogba and Costa to hurt team’s especially from set piece’s and on the counter attack, Having gained an impressive 14 points out of a potential 18 with 2 draws being the only points dropped it was an easy stroll through the group for Chelsea.

Then came PSG and the return of David Luis all seemed to be going to plan in the first leg with Chelsea taking the lead in a match which finished 1-1 leaving them with an advantage going into the second leg in London.

But they were exposed at set pieces twice on a night in which both PSG centre half’s Luis and Silva both scored to send Chelsea crashing out of the competition, with a group stage won easily and an unfortunate last 16 exit there are definitely positive’s to take into next season’s competition for the current standard bearer’s of English football.

Manchester City

Last season’s premier league champions were expected to put in a good showing in this year’s competition with their record since the Sheik’s gazillions being exemplary in every competition barring the champions league.

With a team filled with star’s like David Silva and Sergio Aguero among many other’s hope’s where high among the sky blue faithful and this time around group stage qualification was a minimum with a good push in the knockout stage’s also expected of Pellegrini’s men.

They were placed in a group alongside CSKA, Bayern Munich and Roma and progression although still expected was going to prove tough and their first 4 fixture’s were a disaster, loss’s against Bayern and CSKA as well as draw with CSKA and Roma left City with just 2 points from 4 games and an early exit was looking the outcome of a disastrous campaign, but if their start was sluggish their finish was a sprint wins against Bayern and Roma saw them edge into second place and progress in a dramatic fashion the fan’s have become used to.

Barcelona now stood in their way, buoyed by their group stage success City played well over both leg’s and gave a good showing of themselves with Joe Hart being the star of the tie and Sergio Aguero being the overall hero of their campaign, but Barcelona proved a step to far and the better side most definitley won out in the end. The brilliance City contain was evident with the win over Bayern and their display’s against Roma and Barcelona and will give them confidence going forward, but they remain far from an established European outfit, this has to be their goal over the next few season’s in order to take the next step on this money fuelled rollercoaster.

Arsenal

 Arsenal once again crashed out in the round of 16, a habit that the fan’s hope will be put right soon, Arsenal were there usual reliable selves playing beautiful expansive football, filled with great pacing and explosive pace, the addition of Alexis Sanchez to the lineup has added a razor edge to the squad but the question always with Arsenal is could they drive on or would they crumble under pressure.

Yet thought’s of winning the competition were never truly on the horizon but with the players at Arsene Wenger’s disposal there was always hope.

The group stage’s went well for Arsenal, they and Dortmund were favored to progress and so it proved with the only blibs coming in the form of draws against Basiktas and Anderlecht.

Having been beaten 2-0 away at Dortmund they returned the favor with a 2-0 win for the gunners at the emirates, this meant that Arsenal still had a chance of nabbing top spot in the group.

Dortmund drew with Anderlecht on the final day and Arsenal emphatically put away Galatasaray 4-0 but it wasn’t enough Dortmund topped the group on goal difference.

To be drawn against AS Monaco it seemed was a godsend for the gunners, the best draw they could have hoped for but when the time came around for the first leg of the match up Arsenal imploded on home soil.

Missed chance’s, sloppy defending and an overall poor display left the gunner’s 2-0 down on the stroke of the 90th minute, but Alex Oxlade Chamberlain’s strike gave Arsenal hope only for Monaco to grab a third at the death.

Arsenal were tenacious on Arsene Wenger’s return to Monaco, fighting with a tenacity that should have been seen in the 1st leg, coming into the last 10 minutes it was a free for all as Monaco attempted to see out the fixture a task they managed, to little to late for Arsenal.