Champions League: Wenger utterly perplexed by ‘suicidal’ Arsenal

Gunners boss slams players for weak mentality after Monaca loss at home

LONDON/ LEVERKUSEN: Gunners manager Arsene Wenger slammed his Arsenal flops as naive and suicidal after their defensive meltdown allowed Monaco to clinch a stunning 3-1 win in the Champions League last 16 first leg.

Wenger's side was widely expected to see off the French club and advance to the quarter-finals of Europe's elite club competition for the first time since 2010 but instead they are on the verge of a fifth consecutive last-16 exit following an incredible meltdown at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Geoffrey Kondogbia's first half strike was followed by a cool finish from former Tottenham forward Dimitar Berbatov and, although Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got one back for Arsenal in the 90th minute, there was time for Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco to score Monaco's third and leave the Gunners needing a herculean effort in the second leg on March 17.

In the heat of an immediate post-match press conference, Wenger is usually composed enough to deflect questions that ask him to criticise his players.

But after one of the most chastening defeats of his 19-year Arsenal reign — at the hands of the club where he made his managerial reputation — the 65-year-old was unable to conceal his frustration.

"It was a horrible night. We missed chances and were a bit suicidal defensively,” said the disgruntled Wenger. "Their first goal was unlucky with the deflection but the second and third were suicidal. We cannot give away the third goal like we did.”

Arsenal now need a three-goal victory to complete a miraculous escape in the return at the Stade Louis II.

On the other hand, Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim said he felt Arsenal would be vulnerable if his side could survive the early storm from the hosts, who he believed were too attacking for their own good.

"We analysed Arsenal beforehand and we knew they have been a lot stronger in the first half and struggle a bit after the interval," said Jardim. "Football is an art, you need to know how to attack and defend. It is difficult to score a lot of goals in the Champions League, but today with the space Arsenal gave us we were able to exploit it."

 

Atletico hopeful despite losing at Leverkusen

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone insists his side can turn things around for their Champions League last 16 return-leg clash in Spain after suffering a shock 1-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen.

The Germans have one foot in the quarter-finals for the first time since reaching the 2002 Champions League final after Hakan Calhanoglu's superb second-half goal gives them a slender advantage.

"Leverkusen could have decided the match if they had scored again, so we can live with the situation and we still have a good chance at home," said Simeone. "We have to be positive in the return leg, we had our chances, but it wasn't our night.”

 

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