After crashing out of the Europa League against the Greek outfit Olympiacos squandering the away goal lead initially and Aubameyang missing the sitter in the additional extra time, Arsenal gaffer Mikel Arteta acknowledged it will be “very hard” for the Gunners to secure Champions League qualification via the Premier League fourth spot.
Greek visitors Olympiacos, who sensationally prevailed 2-2 on away goals following Thursday’s 2-1 extra-time victory, eliminated Arsenal by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s stunning late miss in the final seconds.
Gunners won the first leg of the round of 32 in Greece with a scoreline of 1-0 but the clash between the two sides needed extra time after Pape Abou Cisse’s restored the solitary goal lead of Arsenal to parity for Olympiacos across two legs at the Emirates Stadium.
Youssef El-Arabi’s silenced the London crowd before the former remarkably squandered a last-gasp opportunity but Aubameyang looked to have settled the contest with seven minutes remaining in extra time.
Having not featured in Europe’s premier club competition since 2016-17, Winning the Europa League would have gained Arsenal access to the Champions League, as they sit ninth in the Premier League, the Gunners now face an uphill battle seven points adrift of the top four.
The Spaniard Mikel Arteta, who replaced former Paris St Germain boss Unai Emery in December, told to reporters that it is difficult to get the top four position following the defeat against Olympiacos. Mikel Arteta opined:
“Very hard because looking at the table we’re still far from the objectives that we all have, but we’ve been far all season from it and we have to keep fighting,”
“The most important thing now is that the dressing room has to be strong and we have to keep going and react. First of all, I have to convince them about what happened in the game and why they are not through in the tie.
“If they continue to do that, there will be rewards like we have done in the last 10 games that we played.”
Mikel Arteta also said that he is working on lifting the mood in the camp after the defeat. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang looked devastated after Olympiacos scored the goal in the dying movements of the game. Arteta also said that anything can happen in the game of football.
“I just want to concentrate now on lifting those players and getting back the belief, and convince them that there is still a lot to play for, and move on.
“It’s part of this sport that a big disappointment can happen and it happened. We have to learn and react as a team and as a club.”
While it was a shocking evening for the Premier League outfit, it was a memorable outing for Pedro Martins and Olympiacos.
“It’s a historic night for Olympiacos. We deserved this qualification, not only for these two games against Arsenal but also for our spirited performances in Europe throughout the season regardless of the results,” Martins said.
“We were determined, we believed we could qualify and we made it. Tactical intelligence, effectiveness, inner strength, courage… they all weighed in this success.”
