Wenger's 200th European match ends in defeat – Olympiacos 3-1 Arsenal
Arsenal’s final Champions League group game ended in defeat after Greek giants Olympiacos beat the Gunners 3-1 at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium.
In what proved to be a disappointing 200th European match for manager Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal defence conceded early on (16) with Rafik Djebbour latching on to a deflected pass before rounding Lukasz Fabianski and scoring.
Polish shot stopper Fabianski was stretchered off minutes later following a collision with Djebbour, handing Vito Mannone an opportunity to impress in goal – he made an immediate impact.
Mannone’s poor clearance landed at the feet of David Fuster who struck it past the off-balance Italian to make it 2-0 (36) in Piraeus.
Yossi Benayoun bagged a superb second goal for the club in the second half (57), volleying into the net after Marouane Chamakh’s neat chest-down.
The sluggish Arsenal team failed to find a second half equaliser and Olympiacos made sure of victory in the 89th minute when Francois Modesto tapped home from a corner.
Arshavin,Chamakh,Mannone/Fabianski just terrible.
It is impossible that Park is worse than Chamakh. I would take any Championship striker over Chamakh. An absolute liability.
Don’t care about the result, away from home to a team that have the oppurtonity to progress, but it shows how people undermine the abilities of both Koscielny and Mertesacker alongside Vermaelen .. and also how much we underestimate the value of Szczesny !
hope santos’s injury isn’t too bad .
Chamakh & Arshavin aren’t up to it. When they’ve been given chances they’ve shown no desire or hunger. Just lazyness.
Could we see a back four of centre backs against Everton? With Santos out, it could be Djourou, Kos, Per and TV5
lets all be happy that we will not play with this side again on purpose.. Vermaelen shows he is the only one with passion 2nite! Coquelin says that he is ready for 1 team fotball.. Well son, u need to step up your game and be consistent! my thoughts after a poor poor game.
Absolutely frightening how poor our team is when you look past our 1st XI.
Both Keepers/Chamakh/Arshavin/Djourou/Squillaci need to be replaced.
Also cannot believe we played Andre Santos and Vermaelen in this game, really can’t lose either of them at the moment.
Individuals with great potential squandered their chances to show that they are worthy of playing regularly.
What a shame the fringe players didn’t take their chance. How many times did we give it away on the edge of our box? Let’s hope Santos’ injury wasn’t too bad!
Hurts now, but keep in perspective that we have won the group. Compare that with Tottenham or Man City right now!
@TB_Gooner
Get Podolski through the door Arsene!!
We’re on the top of the group, end of story.
We chose the correct game to make these schoolboy mistakes, just glad this performance has not cost us any League points or any trophies, credit to Olympiakos they pressed us well and forced errors. It’s time for Chamakh, Arshavin, Fabianski and Squillaci to leave Arsenal they cannot cut it at the highest level
‘We respect the competiton, we respect the opponent’ – Wenger’s fair intention with fielding Vermaelen and Santos has backfired at us. However, this could have been predicted even by me not by a professional manager. This is totally amateurism. We played for nothing while Olympiakosz had nothing to lose. We lost the one and only left back 2 weeks before a big clash and Vermaelen held his back, as well.
Any news about Santos? I am just wondering why the same team played much better vs. Man City…. just underestimating the game.
truly appalling display from virtually all but if anything tonight might shine a light on how bad things are once the surface is scratched.
hopefully wenger will finally bite the bullet on the continually shite, another refusal to act in a jan transfer window will result in BLOOD! blood on the streets arsene….
No matter how bad ramsey or gervinho plays,they are better than arshavin. Chamakh had 3 shots on goal,1 was blocked,2 when he was flagged offside and 3rd straight at the goal keeper,he’s very low on confidence and should be sold or loaned out.
I’m not convinced these ‘2nd string’ games are the best way to break in the younger players. We usually don’t win and so those with great potential are grown as losers.
sure we lost, but at least we never made the mistakes of the last few seasons and not winning the group, then having to play Barca
Oxo showing all the attributes of becoming a top class winger, Wenger selecting his appearances carefully to avoid ‘burn out’ e.g wilshire . A great experience for our upcoming youth as was city last week.
Arshavin needs to be offloaded. Gives the ball away too much and won’t chase it when he loses it. Chamak is not good enough will be sold in jan. Santos injury is a disaster he was just fitting in well. We need to buy in jan.
Wouldnt go for a championship striker over Chakmakh. But after all these chances given to him, it really shows he dont deserves a spot in our team. We need someone who can fight with rvp over the starting spot!
Benik Afobe should be given a chance once he is fit. Pity he wont get the carling cup chance that the rest got. Would definitly rather him than chamakh though as he would work harder and be hungrier
arshavin needs to go bk to russia he turned out to be a real 1 season wonder
Thomas Vermaelen is one of the best defenders we have right now.. Always gives a 100% to the club…
Arshavin …… We hv to cut the man some slack… hes been in terrible form.. but wait till he bounces back.. keep faith…
I wont b surprised if the 4 Goals against Liverpool feat repeats itself.. #Faith
its bad losing Santos.. We really cud start with 4 CBs at the back agsinst Everton which sux… But that myt increases the versatility of our players..
Finally …. our #1 Keeper — Szczesny just cannot b replaced… 🙂
It was a poor poor performance by Arsenal particularly at the back with the goalkeepers included. Yes we played a reserve team, but the back 4 included three regular starters. overall, one can’t say that we lacked experience. It was defending of the last ditch variety. Oly were really pressing us and applying pressure like no other team has. That kind of pressure cannot be re-created in the training ground.
The three goals scored were a result of the pressing game by Oly, combined with the poor defensive display.
There is one player that deserves to be mentioned for their poor performance….Arshavin. He gave the ball away so many times, was poor going forward and defensively, showed no desire and the negative attitude shown will certainly be noticed by the youngsters.
A poor performance by Arsenal all
arsene knows, my foot!
i just hop schezney never picks up a injury terrible display by our goalkeepers. should have had a draw atleast. And why play the verminator, mertersacker should have been in with the youths he needs the practice.
its good we give player a chance to show how the can play so that if one is not in the first 11 the know why