The Gunners are through to the semi-finals of a continental competition, but their keeper has warned that levels need to improve.
Bernd Leno has given a scathing assessment of Arsenal’s display against Olympiacos in the last 16 of the Europa League, with the Gunners warning that they will “reach nothing this season” if that level of performance is restored. -report over the coming weeks.
Continental Glory is offering Mikel Arteta’s side into the Champions League for next season, as they sit at 10th in the Premier League roster, while also allowing big money products to be run down.
North London’s outfit, however, was far from the best in a 1-0 loss against Greek opponents on Thursday and only made their way into the quarter-final draw courtesy of permission from a 3-1 victory primarily away from home.
What was said?
Leno later told reporters: “We have to be 100 per cent every game. If we play like today we will get nothing this season.
“I think we suffered and it wasn’t necessary. I think because in the first 15 or 20 minutes we got control of the game, but then we made too many easy mistakes and in the second half we took the goal and then its everyone is nervous.
“We made it difficult for ourselves and, as I said, it was unnecessary. In the dressing room it was quiet as everyone knows it was not a good performance from us. We can’t change any more but the positive thing is that it was a warning. ”
Who else is left in the Europa League?
Arsenal remain one of their favorites to go all the way this season, but there are still a number of major obstacles blocking their path.
Manchester United’s domestic rivals are also into the last eight, along with stellar squads at Roma, Ajax, Granada and Villarreal.
Dinamo Zagreb, new from seeing Tottenham out of line for Jose Mourinho, and Czech side Slavia Prague will end the draw for the next stage on Friday.
Can Arsenal pick up the trophy?
The beaten 2019 finishers had been showing signs of life before they came relentlessly against Olympiacos.
They have suffered only two cases in their last nine rounds across all competitions, with German goalkeeper Leno believing that nothing is possible if collection rates can be raised.
He said: “I think there are only some really good teams in the semi-finals and we need two perfect matches to go to the semi-finals and two more games to go to the finals. . This is our target.
“The Europa League is very important to us. This is probably the closest way to going to the Champions League and also to winning a big European cup so we have to step in.
“We need to be motivated to win every game, cut out the easy mistakes and make it through to the finals and hopefully have a big final at the end of the season.”