EPL in decline

London - Chelsea's elimination from the Champions League after losing to Paris St Germain on the away goals rule leaves the English Premier League facing the embarrassing realisation that it is not, as it likes to think, the best league in the world.

A month after clinching a $7.64 billion TV rights deal, there is a very real possibility that for the second time in three seasons, no English club will make it into the last eight of European soccer's elite competition.

Arsenal, beaten 3-1 at home by AS Monaco in the first leg of their round of 16 tie, and Manchester City, who lost 2-1 at home to Barcelona in theirs, are both on the brink of elimination ahead of next week's second legs, while only Everton have reached the last 16 of the Europa League.