Manger Arsene Wenger slams players' poor mentality after Gunners avoid embarrassing elimination from Europa League despite 1-2 loss to Ostersund
Jack Wilshere (centre) is dejected after Arsenal concede a goal against Ostersund during the Europa League tie on Thursday. Pic/Getty Images
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Arsene Wenger accused his Arsenal team of complacency and a lack of focus after they risked an embarrassing elimination from the Europa League throughout their 2-1 home defeat by Ostersund. Arsenal play in the League Cup final against Manchester City tomorrow.
Having built a convincing 3-0 lead during the away leg, Wenger named an under-strength team in preparation for the fixture at Wembley and watched his team struggle. Of his leading players only Hector Bellerin and Wilshere started as an own goal from Calum Chambers and Ken Sema's finish, both of which betrayed a lack of composure.
Arsene Wenger
Only after Sead Kolasinac's fine second-half strike did the pressure that had been building begin to ease, and Wenger said: "We were not at the races in the first half. The second half was much better and we should have scored some more goals: our energy was higher and we were in control. In the first half we were in trouble and in danger because we were complacent and not focused.
"We were open every time we lost the ball and had no ideas, and that's why we were in trouble," Wenger added. "We prepared properly but you have external circumstances. The fact that we won 3-0 (in the away leg), we have another big game on Sunday, that people subconsciously think you just have to turn up to win: football doesn't work like that. It's what you see in the FA Cup: you can be in trouble every time you're not 100 per cent focused."
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