Wenger suggested a combination of fatigue and naivety had undone his team and he knows they face a tough road to the last 16. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON: Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund has left his side’s bid to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages on a knife-edge.
Wenger’s team lost their 100 percent record in Group F as Robert Lewandowski’s late winner stunned the Gunners and ended their 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan had put Dortmund ahead early in the first half and, although Olivier Giroud equalised before the interval, Wenger conceded Arsenal had been below their best both physically and mentally.
Next up for Arsenal is a daunting trip to Dortmund on November 6 before a home clash with Marseille and then the final group fixture in Napoli in December.
“The group is tight and difficult for us but it (qualification) is still possible,” said Wenger. “We have three teams with six points and we have played twice at home so we need a result away, but we can do that.
“Physically Dortmund were a stronger team than any we have played so far this season.
“But disappointment like that is part of a team’s development and growth. It is down to us to recover physically.”
Meanwhile, Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp was happy to acknowledge his team’s victory was a smash and grab raid.
“We knew we had to be disciplined and we played well,” he said. “We were good at pressing and caused a lot of problems for a team that wanted to pass the ball but couldn’t.
“You have to fight at times and we did that. The winner was maybe the best attack in the game with a brilliant cross and a brilliant finish.”
Milan hold on for draw against dominant Barca
AC Milan survived a dominant second-half display by Barcelona to deprive the Spanish giants of a third successive Champions League Group H win in a pulsating 1-1 draw at the San Siro.
The draw leaves Barcelona top of the group on seven points with Milan in second on five while Celtic are third with three having beaten Ajax 2-1.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri was pleased with a share of the spoils.
“I’m happy with our overall performance,” he said. “Mistakes are part of the game and conceding a goal against Barcelona is always to be expected.
“We had to be extra focused, against a team like Barcelona you have to have eyes all over the pitch to keep track.”
Meanwhile, Barca coach Gerardo Martino was visibly frustrated with his side’s failure to virtually secure early qualification for the last 16.
“It’s a good point for us but if you look over the 90 minutes I think we deserved to take more from the game,” said Martino.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2013.
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