The Europa League tie against Olympiakos Piraeus marks the end of Arsenal’s European adventure as Mikel Arteta’s men were sent crashing out of the competition by a 119th minute winner from Youssef El-Arabi in disheartening fashion.
The Greek side came to the Emirates with a plan and duly frustrated the home team by sitting deep inside their own half, disrupting the free flowing game that Arteta would’ve wished to see. They even got a goal to show for their efforts which came via Cisse’s header in the 53rd minute.
Meanwhile, Arsenal were complacent in their defending, particularly on set pieces, and were limited to 0 shots on target all way way up till the 77th minute.
As the match went to extra time, Aubameyang emerged with a sumptuous bicycle kick goal to put the Gunners ahead in the tie.
However, the joy was short-lived, as Youssef El-Arabi capitalized on yet another defensive lapse from the Arsenal defence, this time on a half-cleared corner.
But the contest was far from over, and still had one last moment of action as the Gabonese striker found himself with a gilt-edged opportunity, six-yards out from the goal in the very last minute of the game.
It wasn’t to be though for Auba and Arsenal as, with the goal at his mercy, he dragged the shot wide.
No one in the stadium, including the Olympiakos defender Ousseynou Ba, could quite apprehend how the striker failed to put the ball in the back of the net.
The number 24, stood in disbelief, with hands on his head, summing up the reaction from the Gooners.
Although it was relief that followed the defender, for Aubameyang and the home fans, it was sheer agony.
“It hurts“, said the Arsenal boss after the match and it indeed does, in more ways than one.
Fingers are now being pointed out at Arteta for the lack of rotation in the team and other in-game decisions as Arsenal might have just lost their best shot at the Champions League spot for the next season.
