Charlie Nicholas: Arsenal paid the price for a terrible first-leg performance
Arsenal’s exit from the Champions League at the hands of Monaco should have been avoided and was typical of the club, according to Sky Sports’Charlie Nicholas.
The Gunners won 2-0 at the Stade Louis II thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and substitute Aaron Ramsey, but went out on away goals after Monaco’s 3-1 win at the Emirates in the first leg.
Despite a fine attacking performance by Arsenal on Tuesday night, Arsene Wenger’s side could not find a third goal, and they depart the Champions League at the last-16 stage for a fifth straight year.
Olivier Giroud reacts to a missed chance in the first half
Nicholas said on Soccer Special: “We do the same thing every year. We’ve done it against much better teams than this. We’ve done it against Bayern Munich and we’ve done it against Barcelona. You name it we’ve done it.
“This is a cruel one. This was a performance I’ve been waiting for a long time to see in Europe. They’ll be scratching their head in the morning wondering how they are out against Monaco.
“Monaco were on the ropes. After the first 10 minutes they looked like Arsenal were going to outclass them.”
Santi Cazorla of Arsenal looks dejected as Monaco players celebrate
Arsenal have been criticised for not performing in the bigger games in Europe and domestically over the years, but carrying the momentum from recent good form in the Premier League and FA Cup, at times it looked as though a dramatic comeback was on the cards.
Nicholas could not fault the Arsenal side, and said Mesut Ozil’s performance was his best at the club after a fine show in midfield.
“I’m very critical of a lot of the players a lot of the time because I think it’s justified but tonight I thought Mesut Ozil was magnificent. The best I’ve seen him.
“He was working his socks off. Everybody tried and everybody gave their very best but they punished themselves. They beat themselves again.”
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger should get most of the blame, but not all, says Nicholas
Despite the performance, Nicholas rued Arsenal’s approach when the side are under pressure, and says Wenger should get most of the blame, but not all.
“Once again these players have turned up when the pressure was off them because they can just go for it.
“They need to start turning up when the pressure is on them. That’s why they don’t win big football matches domestically and that’s why they get put out against Monaco. I think the manager should get the brunt of it but not all of it.
“They’ve got all the class and all the ability compared to anyone else. They are probably the second-best team behind Barcelona when it’s fluent like this but why do they always have an Achilles heel like defending when it is the basic concept of the game?”
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