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Mikel Arteta blasts 'unacceptable' winner after Bernd Leno mistake in Arsenal loss


Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta blasted the late winner which ended his side’s Europa League campaign as “unacceptable”.

Youssef El-Arabi scored a 119th minute winner for Greek side Olympiacos at the Emirates as the Greek side won 2-1 on the night to progress to the last 16 on away goals.

The goal had come from a needless corner conceded by Bernd Leno as the Arsenal keeper invited pressure rather than kicking the ball downfield.

Arteta admitted the Germany international could have done better, but refused to let Leno shoulder all the blame after the Gunners defence failed to clear the resulting corner.

“Yes, obviously he could have kicked it out, but then there is another situation to defend,” said Arteta.

David Luiz, Bernd Leno and Lucas Torreira after Arsenal concede a last-ditch second goal in extra time against Olympiacos

“It’s not only the first phase but it’s the second phase of that corner that we concede and the player steps in and just taps in the ball in the six-yard box, which is unacceptable.”

After Arsenal took a 1-0 lead into Thursday’s game, Pape Cisse put the Greek side ahead on the night to level the tie, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a spectacular overhead kick in extra time to seemingly set the Gunners on course for the last 16.

But El-Arabi’s winner came just six minutes later, and Arsenal boss Arteta admitted his side had to get better at dealing with set pieces after both Olympiacos goals came from corners.

“It is something that we have to improve on,” said the manager.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said a win would have given his side ‘a big lift’

“We’ve done the most difficult thing to react after that, to play against a team with 10 men behind the ball in 25 metres.”

Aubameyang had a late chance to equalise but uncharacteristically missed from six yards out.

And Arteta said: “Even at the end, we had an incredible opportunity to win it.

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“Had we gone through energy wise, it would have given us a big lift again and [brought] everybody together.

“It is a big disappointment and I am right behind the boys, the way they played, the way they tried. The effort that they put into game was enormous and we have to move forward together.”





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