Arsenal plumb the depths with Olympiakos horror show
David Ospina caps dreadful night for Arsene Wenger with own goal to leave Gunners facing Champions League exit
Arsenal 2 Olympiakos 3
It may have seemed like groundhog day for Arsenal as they were embarrassed in the Champions League by Olympiakos, but their latest European humiliation was surely their worst yet. Last season it was Monaco, a fortnight ago Dinamo Zagreb but the 3-2 defeat to Greek side Olympiakos plumbed new depths of ineptitude for Arsene Wenger's side.
Their defending was a disgrace, their industry appalling and their sharpness in front of goal a joke.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As for Olympiakos, they thought Christmas had come early as the Arsenal defence gift-wrapped the goals for their visitors. So much for being wary of Greeks bearing gifts.
Before last night's Group F encounter Olympiakos had lost all 12 of their away games against English teams in European competition, scoring just three goals and leaking 37 of their own. But 90 wretched minutes they doubled their tally to leave their hosts bottom of the group and in danger of failing to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time in 16 successive European campaigns.
Wenger has only himself to blame. For reasons best known to himself, he left Petr Cech on the bench and started the game with his second-choice goalkeeper David Ospina. As misjudgements go it was up there with England rugby captain Chris Robshaw's clanger against Wales at Twickenham last Saturday.
Ospina wasn't at fault for Olympiakos's opening goal on 33 minutes, the Colombian left stranded by Felipe Pardo's deflected shot off the heel of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but there was no doubt who was to blame for the visitors' second on 40 minutes, five minutes after Theo Walcott had equalised for Arsenal. Ospina appeared to have Kostas Fourtounis's inswinging corner from the right covered but in attempting to catch the ball he patted it down and over the goalline, his howler spotted by the fifth official behind the goal.
Arsenal got themselves back into the game midway through the second half when, after a period of sustained pressure, Theo Walcott's deft chipped cross was headed home by Alexis Sanchez. The Arsenal faithful roared, sensing the force was now with their team and a winner was coming. A winner did come, just 59 seconds later, but it was from the boot of Alfred Finnbogason as Olympiakos tore open the Arsenal defence with ease.
"We lacked quality defensive concentration," admitted Wenger. "We gave a lot and had 65 per cent possession. We feel guilty because we gave easy goals away."
The biggest post-match talking point, however, was the omission of Cech, signed for £10m from Chelsea in the summer because Wenger knew he needed a reliable keeper. Labelling the decision "a big mistake", former Arsenal striker turned BT Sport pundit Ian Wright, asked: "For somebody who's not playing often - and this is a must-win game - how can you put Ospina in goal? You've got to question the manager there."
Questioned about the inclusion of Ospina, Wenger told reporters: "That is a simple thing. David Ospina played 19 games last season and kept 14 clean sheets and last week he had a fantastic game. No keeper is mistake free, it could have happened to Petr Cech as well."
That blase answer is unlikely to appease the Arsenal fans, who now face the likelihood of spending the early part of 2016 trailing round the more remote footballing outposts of Europe in the Europa League, provided they can recover to finish third in their group.
"I make the decisions and selections for the team and I'm responsible for it," said Wenger when asked what the fans would make of Cech's omission. "I know many things that you don't know and that you ignore. You cannot select a team by using a poll and getting everyone's opinion before the game."
Ever the optimist, Wenger believes Arsenal can still qualify for the last 16 despite propping up Group F and with home and away games to come against Bayern Munich (who thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 5-0 on Tuesday night). "It puts us in a bad position but we are still in it," he said. "We have to think we can deal with Zagreb and Olympiakos and we need a result in our next game away from home against Bayern Munich."
Easier said than done.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The four presidents who were assassinated in office
The Explainer The unlucky men who fell victim to successful plots against their lives
By David Faris Published
-
Canada's carbon tax in the crosshairs
Under the radar PM Justin Trudeau's flagship green policy has become increasingly unpopular as citizens grapple with high inflation and cost-of-living crisis
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: October 14, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
The 'Swiss model' shaking up the Champions League
In The Spotlight Uefa says the new format offers 'greater excitement' but critics say boredom is guaranteed
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Champions League final: Man City vs. Inter predictions and preview
feature Can Guardiola’s team finally win the Champions League and complete a historic treble?
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Pros and cons of VAR in football
Pros and Cons String of mistakes has put new technology under the microscope
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Can Arsenal really win the Premier League title?
feature How the pundits reacted after the Gunners’ late 3-2 victory over Man Utd
By Mike Starling Published
-
Uefa Champions League 2022-2023 guide: group stage draw and key dates
feature Liverpool face Rangers while Man City’s Erling Haaland has a reunion with Dortmund
By Mike Starling Published