Captain Laurent Koscielny and goal scoring hero of the night, Danny Welbeck, faced the BT Sport cameras after Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against CSKA Moscow; a result that qualified the Gunners for the semi-finals of the Europa League 6-3 on aggregate.
Here’s what they had to say after a frantic night in the Russian capital.
On a difficult night…
DW: It wasn’t comfortable. As you’ve seen throughout Europe this week, it’s difficult when you’ve got the advantage from the first game. Today we found out how difficult. Coming away from home and playing in a different environment, it’s going to be hard but we stuck to it and finally got the result in the end.
On his goal…
DW: Obviously the defender was a bit tight to me. I knew he thought I was going to take the touch inside as I’d done previously when I’d received the ball earlier on. I just let it go to the opposite side, a little one-two inside with Mo [Elneny] and I knew if I make that run inside it’d be very difficult for the defender to get me. I finished it away nicely.
On inviting pressure…
LK: It was not the plan. We missed a lot of movement, to be available for our teammates. We didn’t win the duels. It was hard, they played well with the ball. They had some opportunity and they take it. They scored two goals and after we had some tough pressure on us. If they score the third one we are out. Today, we’re happy to come back in the game, to 2-2. It’s not enough though, to go more forward in this competition, we’ve qualified for the semi-finals and we’ll see the draw, but we need to be more confident in our game.
On this being Arsenal’s first semi-final in nine years…
LK: There’s no pressure. As a football player you hope to play in big moments like this and to go to the final. We’ll see the draw tomorrow but it’s very important for the club to go far in this competition. Today we’ve qualified so we’re happy. We will see. It’s a big competition for us, it’s our chance to be in the Champions League next season. We’ll do the work until the end.
ElNeny was massive; Wilshere not so much. DW adding goals to his “tactical flexibility.” Brilliant!
I want us to meet Athletico next. I like facing my fears and they are not invincible, sporting showed that tonight. Depending on our mood we can win or loose to anybody.
But only if we play the 1st leg away, we know what happend for years in CL when we finished 2nd in the group and okayed the 1st leg at home even monaco scored 3 against us.
I’d rather face Atletico in the final but we have to get their first! Better off in a once off game in a neutral ground then two legs over Simeone whose tactically class.
we have a better chance against them in two games IMO
Mustafi is not making happy anymore neither Jack
He sure did.
Don’t like the crap Danny gets sometimes. I remember when he scored against United in the FA cup a few years back and he celebrated like a mad man.
Have admired him since.
On to the semis!
That turn by That guy thooo !! Liking the almost LANS Welbz. On to the Semis!! COYG
On another level tonight. Get him on the plane this summer! It’s that Siberian air – once a Northerner, always a Northerner.
Elneny my man of the match today..covered ever Blade of grass..and two assists too..
Welbeck is putting in performances in the Europa league run that reminds me of Chris Wreh in the 1998 FA Cup. Always 3rd or 4th choice but came up with the goals wen needed!
Welbeck finished his nicely.
Ramsey finished his ever so well.
Great finish by ramsey, but you don,t need to risk it wheb you have easiest of passes left ans a right for ozil and welbz to make a tap in, but the game was already done when its crucial play the simole pass.
Sorry, you’re dissing him for scoring?
Elneny needs to keep his place. Welbeck, just please keep finishing it away.
Good thing we have Welbz coming into form right now with Laca still recovering full match fitness and Auba cup-tied. I hope Mkhi is back soon to add a bit of trickery and cutting edge.
Good play by Welbeck. He showed more presence I felt than Lacazette tonight even if the Frenchman had better control on the ball. Welbeck still lacks anticipation and he tends to be a bit too simple. Late on he tried to square to the player in the box but there was a CSKA defender right in front and it went (predictably) to him instead. He could have perhaps shaped to square it but cut in and shoot. What was telling though was Wenger kept Welbeck on instead of Lacazette. I think the physique of Danny lends him better always at… Read more »
Shout out to Elneny.
He wasn’t particularly strong first half and was a bit all over the place, shrugged off too easily at times.
but he kept at it and energy levels were there.
What he did well today though were those tow assists. Simple direct slide rule passes as the back 3 tired and went flat.
Well done.