Well well well well well! This game, unfortunately, didn’t go as I thought. I’ll do a review of the game and then a player rating at the end.
The team just didn’t seem to turn up. We did the hard work in Greece and all we needed to do was not lose. The team was probably the strongest team Arteta could have gone for, but for some reason the zip in passes, the creativity in the final third and the teams confidence just wasn’t there. We couldn’t break Olympiacos down. They sat deep in defence, and countered in attack and took advantage of their set plays, which once again let the Arsenal down.
The first few minutes I thought Arsenal looked to be in business, they had a couple of set plays, a couple of shots then nothing really happened after that. Both goals we conceded were really poor defensively. I’m unsure how an opposition player is allowed a free run into the box and a completely unchallenged header to score. Easy goal for the away side.
Auba scored an unbelievable overhead kick to give the Gunners the goal that would send us into the next round. This came from consistent pressure from Arsenal. Most of the game was a lot of pressure from Arsenal, which was all soaked up by the very well organised Olympiacos.
The second came from the second phase of a corner, which Leno conceded so unnecessarily. I’m sure he knows, but why play around in your own half when there is only a few minutes left to play, knowing if they score just one, at this late stage, it’ll probably send them through. Anyway, the cross that came in wasn’t dealt with once again and the visitors have there second away goal and the goal that would send them into the next round.
Auba had the chance to draw level and send us through in the last couple minutes with a chance he would score nine times out of ten, but it clearly wasn’t meant to be for the home side.
There were huge highs and deep lows in this tie for everyone associated with Arsenal. We are out of the Europa league, arguably our best chance route into the Champions League. There is still a lot of the season left for something to happen for Arsenal though, anything can happen in football.
Player ratings
Leno – 4
Bellerin – 4
Mustafi – 7
Luiz – 3
Saka – 6
Xhaka – 6
Cabellos – 5
Pepe – 7
Ozil – 5
Aubameyang – 6
Lacazette – 5
Subs
Torreira – 5
Willock – 5
Sokratis – 4
Martinelli – 6