By Tayo Joseph, Lagos
Arsenal’s poor showing in the 2-1 defeat by Ostersund in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League last 32 tie was due to complacency, the English Premier League club’s manager Arsene Wenger says.
The north London club fell behind to two quick Ostersund goals in the first half before Sead Kolasinac reduced the deficit after half-time, but Arsenal were unable to make a comeback.
In spite of their loss, Arsenal progressed to the last 16 on aggregate, but Wenger was not happy with his team’s performance.
“We were in trouble because we were complacent and not focused,’’Wenger said.
“We are open every time we lost the ball and had no ideas with the ball. That’s why we are in trouble.
“In the second half, it was much better. We did the job to qualify. That’s what you have to keep from the night and that’s it.”
Arsenal easily won 3-0 in the tie’s first leg.
The Frenchman thinks this and the upcoming English League Cup final match against Manchester City on Sunday led the English team to underestimate their Swedish opposition at the Emirates.
“The fact that we won the first leg 3-0, the fact that we have another big game on Sunday and the fact that people subconsciously thought that they just have to turn up to win the game,” Wenger said.
“Football doesn’t work like that. We played against a good side and you can be in trouble every time you’re not 100 per cent focused.”
https://scrollreport.com/2018/02/23/revealed-mourinhos-plan-beat-antonio-contes-chelsea/
