Emile Smith Rowe admits Arsenal struggled to get control of their second-leg clash with Olympiacos and were disappointed to lose on the night even though they progressed to the quarter-finals 3-2 on aggregate.
Youssef El-Arabi’s second half strike set pulses racing at the Emirates on a night when the Greeks needed three goals but the visitors were left ruing a late sending off for Ousseynou Ba as they chased the game.
Facing the BT Sport cameras, Smith Rowe had this to say…
On progressing to the next round…
It definitely means a lot to us after going out last year to this team, it’s a good feeling for us. But it’s a very disappointing result today.
On not doing it the easy way…
Yeah, definitely. We didn’t start well, it wasn’t the best performance from us. Like you said, we’re through, it’s been a big week for us and we’ve got to move on and forget about this.
On whether there were tired legs…
Yeah, probably after the game on Sunday, the north London derby. We looked a bit fatigued at times. Overall, disappointing, but we’re happy to get through.
On the second half…
It was really difficult. We knew they have really good players and they are good on the counter. When they got the goal they really started to push on. I felt we never really took control of the game after that. We got the result in the end.
On this being a learning experience…
We’re on a journey together. There are young players and experienced players on the team and we’re all trying to help each other every day. We have to keep going game-by-game and keep pushing through together.
On getting a knock early on…
Yeah, I’m all good man. There was a little bit of fatigue and stuff, but I’m just going to recover and then we go again on Sunday.
On his England under-21 call-up…
I got a message from one of the coaches. Obviously, it’s a really happy moment for me and my family. I can’t wait to get over there and get started. I was with my mum and dad at the time. I showed them the message. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity so I can’t wait to get started.
Mate just switch on the spurs game, you’ll forget soon enough
So unlucky to block pepe’s shot, but a lone bright spot of the night.
In other news, zagreb with 3-2 lead over Tottenham!
Sp**s blood washes away our sins🙏🏿🙏🏿
Absolute beauty of a goal might kick spurs out!
ZAGREB IS ABOUT TO BEAT SP*RS
Was annoyed with our poor performance, but not annoyed for long 😁 Zagreb have just cheered me up immensely.
Annoying news from Croatia. Was hoping for the stronger team to be knocked out, but nope, not our night.
Martinelli finally came on and did more in 10min if only he had started or came on at half time and had half the chances Auba had we would be at least 2 up
THANK YOU
Proo
Proper impact sub, in more ways than one usually the impact isn’t an elbow in the Face
Where are all the Ceballos fans? He has so much passion omg he jumps up when someone else scores, look at how he falls to the ground and punches the ground multiple times omg he has so much passion..cebaloos the passion merchant lol you fans are hilarious and so dumbbb you fall for all that theatrics. Ceballos is an overrated attention seeking passion merchant whree can’t wait to send him back to Madrid
Easy comment on the worst time of his Arsenal career so far.
But I dont think any of us are too sad to see him go back to Madrid?
Wow ESR looks really depressed cheer up mate spurs are gone!!!
If ever a 0-1 was a win it was tonight. We should have won, but who cares we are through, and it was comfortable enough.
The players put in a huge shift at the weekend and won, there seemed to be some tired legs and minds out there. Olympiacos are the sort of niggly, fouly team that we struggle against, with enough quality to punish our mistakes so it’s good to get through and we live to fight another day. Auba puts away one of those chances and it’s a different game.
Hapless Arsenal game tonight but we went through and much, MUCH more important.
SPUDS OUT! O U T – OUT!!!
Jermaine impartiality personified must be a happy chap. I suppose his new lap dog Keown will lose his choke chain.wankers