Arsene Wenger says it's too soon to draw conclusions about the strength of the Bundesliga in the wake of an extraordinary week for German football.
An all-German Champions League final was as long as 7/1 with some bookmakers ahead of this week's semi-final first legs but that all changed after Bayern Munich thrashed Barcelona 4-0 and Real Madrid were beaten 4-1 at Borussia Dortmund.
The pace and precision of the German sides on the counter-attack proved too much for their La Liga rivals, prompting a debate over whether the Bundesliga is now the pre-eminent division on the continent.
Wenger was impressed by what he saw in midweek but he is not so sure there has been a power shift away from Spain and England.
"You cannot go as far as that," Wenger told Arsenal Player.
"Let's not forget as well that Dortmund could have gone out against Malaga with normal refereeing. You cannot take one event and go to general conclusions."
"That Bayern is a top team in Europe, we knew that before. Bayern is an isolated phenomenon in Germany. They played in the final last year and in three finals in the last four years. That is a little bit special. They are a huge financial power in Germany. For the rest I think it is very open. Next season you will see the English teams again."
Ironically Arsenal are the only team to deny Bayern victory in their last 21 games, thanks to a 2-0 win at the Allianz Arena in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Wenger's side also took four points off Dortmund in the competition last season.
"We know how to deal with the Germans," noted Wenger. "I think away from home, even in the Champions League this season, we lost only one game at Olympiacos when we were qualified already.
"We have knowledge and culture in the Club that knows how to deal with the games away from home. We do that quite well."
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