Mesut Özil and Per Mertesacker have fallen foul to the curse of the last 16 once again. Both World Cup winners played in Arsenal’s 2-0 win in the second leg of their clash with AS Monaco in the Champions League but the Gunners were knocked out at the last 16 stage for the fifth season in a row as they went out on away goals. Monaco advance to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2003/04, which is mainly thanks to the 3-1 win in the first leg.
Arsenal were attempting to do the seemingly impossible: score three goals at the Stade Louis II, where Monaco are yet to concede a goal in this season’s Champions League. Goals from Olivier Giroud (36’) and Aaron Ramsey (79’) weren’t enough for the Londoners in front of 17,263 spectators, as it was the poor result in the first leg at home that cost them.
Manager Arsène Wenger, who was honoured for his services to AS Monaco between 1987 and 1994 before the game, included both Özil and Mertesacker in his starting line-up. Arsenal’s strike force weren’t able to create much early on, with an early headed chance for Giroud as good as it got.
Monaco set-up as you would expect after winning the first leg away from home. The second best side in France from last season went with two banks of four, with only Joao Moutinho and former Bundesliga man Dimitar Berbatov attempting to cross the halfway line. Arsenal were playing the ball around as if it was handball: side to side, forward and back but they could not find the gaps. Francis Coquelin, who used to play for SC Freiburg, was in an offside position when his shot hit the bar in the 23rd minute.
But then came a glimmer of hope. Giroud got onto the end of a through ball and had his first attempt saved by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic but the Frenchman put away the rebound. Arsenal were dominating the game at this point and the striker had another great chance to double the lead just before half time (45’).
Arsenal had to take risks as they upped the pressure but didn’t get hit on the counter by the hosts - as they did multiple times in the first leg. The always noticeable Özil saw a free kick saved by Subasic in the 54th minute before firing just wide from the edge of the box ten minutes later. Ramsey’s late goal set up an exciting end to the game but Arsenal were unable to find the all-important third goal.
Mesut Özil and Per Mertesacker have fallen foul to the curse of the last 16 once again. Both World Cup winners played in Arsenal’s 2-0 win in the second leg of their clash with AS Monaco in the Champions League but the Gunners were knocked out at the last 16 stage for the fifth season in a row as they went out on away goals. Monaco advance to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2003/04, which is mainly thanks to the 3-1 win in the first leg.
Arsenal were attempting to do the seemingly impossible: score three goals at the Stade Louis II, where Monaco are yet to concede a goal in this season’s Champions League. Goals from Olivier Giroud (36’) and Aaron Ramsey (79’) weren’t enough for the Londoners in front of 17,263 spectators, as it was the poor result in the first leg at home that cost them.
Manager Arsène Wenger, who was honoured for his services to AS Monaco between 1987 and 1994 before the game, included both Özil and Mertesacker in his starting line-up. Arsenal’s strike force weren’t able to create much early on, with an early headed chance for Giroud as good as it got.
Monaco set-up as you would expect after winning the first leg away from home. The second best side in France from last season went with two banks of four, with only Joao Moutinho and former Bundesliga man Dimitar Berbatov attempting to cross the halfway line. Arsenal were playing the ball around as if it was handball: side to side, forward and back but they could not find the gaps. Francis Coquelin, who used to play for SC Freiburg, was in an offside position when his shot hit the bar in the 23rd minute.
But then came a glimmer of hope. Giroud got onto the end of a through ball and had his first attempt saved by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic but the Frenchman put away the rebound. Arsenal were dominating the game at this point and the striker had another great chance to double the lead just before half time (45’).
Arsenal had to take risks as they upped the pressure but didn’t get hit on the counter by the hosts - as they did multiple times in the first leg. The always noticeable Özil saw a free kick saved by Subasic in the 54th minute before firing just wide from the edge of the box ten minutes later. Ramsey’s late goal set up an exciting end to the game but Arsenal were unable to find the all-important third goal.
