Arsene Wenger Infuriated In Conference When Questioned About Ospina’s
A 3-2 home defeat was Arsenal’s second straight loss in the group stage, with two matches against German champions Bayern Munich to come next.
Wenger made a total of five changes to the side that had come from behind to triumph 5-2 at Leicester last weekend.
Finnbogason, the Iceland worldwide who was a half-time substitute, talked of how Olympiakos had executed a flawless gameplan after scrutinising Arsenal’s weaknesses, which include how they defend corners.
The manager, though, started Ospina in the opening Group F loss at Dinamo Zagreb and he retained faith in the Colombian for a game Arsenal could not afford to lose.
“Wenger Out” was trending on Twitter at half-time during last night’s match and Wenger said only he is to blame for the result.
Wenger blamed the lack of “quality in our defensive concentration” for the defeat while he lamented bad luck, too. “I don t have to sit here and give you explanations about every decision I make”, he said. However, Arsenal’s sloppy play continued, as they immediately conceded yet again, and Olympiakos took a 3-2 lead just seconds after the Sanchez equalizer.
“No ‘keeper is mistake-free”.
“We had 65 percent possession but we feel guilty because we gave easy goals away”.
“Bayern Munich are the best team in the world at the moment, not Europe, the world”.
Pressed on why he had decided he could do without the experience of former Chelsea star Cech, an increasingly tetchy Wenger refused to accept he had blundered.
“If you look at Barcelona – who played Bayer Leverkusen – Messi was injured and they still played their strongest team”.
United will take on Bundesliga giants Wolfsburg this week in their own Champions League tie.
Per Neil Ashton in the Daily Mail, the usually calm Wenger accused his Arsenal side “of lacking passion and desire during a fiery training ground inquest” and left them in no doubt they need to raise their game and improve their attitude.
That means the poor performances against Zagreb and Olypiakos have already cost Arsenal a potential £2.22 million but there is a further £4.44 million at stake in the remaining group games.
“At home we should be much more aggressive from the start and be more dynamic”.