Arsenal survive scare in embarrassing defeat to Swedish minnows
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Updated 22/02/2018 at 23:03 GMT
Arsenal reached the Europa League last 16, but only after losing 2-1 at home to Swedish minnows Ostersunds for a 4-2 aggregate victory.
Ken Sema of Ostersunds FK celebrates scoring the second Ostersunds goal with team mates during UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Arsenal and Ostersunds FK at the Emirates Stadium on February 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
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Ostersunds - a club formed a month after Arsene Wenger was appointed Arsenal manager in 1996 - travelled to the Emirates Stadium after losing the first leg 3-0 in Sweden last week, but found themselves 2-0 up after 24 minutes in the second leg.
A massive shock was on the cards at half-time, but it still needed a mistake by the visiting side in defence for Sead Kolašinac to calm Arsenal's nerves on 47 minutes with a fine finish.
There was no further scoring on the night as Ostersunds claimed the scalp of Arsenal on the night which added to victories over the likes of Galatasaray, PAOK and Hertha Berlin.
The visitors were watched by 5,000 travelling fans on a frigid night at a home ground with plenty of empty spaces. They claimed the glory with Arsenal moving onto a Friday's draw for the last 16 of Europe's second tier tournament.
TALKING POINT: Arsenal had one eye on Sunday's Carabao Cup final?
This defeat was poor preparation for a match against the might of Manchester City. Arsene Wenger warned his players against complacency before the game but Arsenal played like a team who believed they had already qualified for the last-16 after a 3-0 win snowy Sweden.
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Arsenal's German-born Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their first goal during the second leg of the Europa League Round of 32 football match between Arsenal and Ostersunds at the Emirates Stadium in London on Fe
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Given their first-leg lead and Sunday's visit to Wembley, it is perhaps understandable that the hosts were not at full pelt but they were far too casual throughout, particularly over the course of two first-half minutes when Ostersund scored twice. Rather than use the game to stake a claim for a place in Sunday's XI, Arsenal's fringe players sleepwalked through the match and too many -- among them Danny Welbeck, Alex Iwobi and Rob Holding -- failed to deliver.
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Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal scores the first Arsenal goal during UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Arsenal and Ostersunds FK at the Emirates Stadium on February 22, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH: Ken Sema (Ostersunds)
The winger's strength and pace troubled Arsenal throughout and he scored a brilliant goal, turning Calum Chambers and rifling a low drive across David Ospina into the bottom corner. The three-capped Sweden international will be one to watch at next summer's World Cup.
PLAYER RATINGS
- Arsenal: Ospina 5, Bellerin 5, Chambers 5, Holding 5, Kolasinac 6, Elneny 6, Maitland-Niles 4, Mkhitaryan 6, Wilshere 6, Iwobi 5, Welbeck 6...subs: Xhaka 7, Willock. 6, Nelson, 6
- Ostersund: Keita 6, Mukiibi 5, Papagiannopoulos 7, Pettersson 7, Widgren 6, Aiesh 7, Edwards 6, Nouri 7, Sema 8, Ghoddos 7, Hopcutt 7..subs: Islamovic 6, Tekie 6, Arhin 6
KEY MOMENTS
- 20' - Chance, Arsenal: Wilshere finds a lovely pocket of space on the edg of box from Bellerin's pass and hits a rasping half-volley which is well blocked by Papagiannopoulous
- 21' - Goal! Arsenal 0-1 Ostersund: Horrendous defending from Arsenal as Aiesh is left all by himself on the right wing and charges forward to finish via a touch from Chambers.
- 22' - Goal! Arsenal 0-2 Ostersund: Just 69 seconds after Aiesh's opener, Sema scores a gorgeous second. Things are really, really interesting now. The Sweden international swivels in the box and rifles a lovely low strike across David Ospina and into the bottom corner.
- 34' - Chance, Arsenal: Mhki's inswinging freekick is flicked into the arms of goalkeeper Keita by Welbeck.
- 46' - Goal! Arsenal 1-2 Ostersund: Arsenal take back control of the tie within 90 seconds of the restart. The hosts work a good overlap down the right but Mukiibi should comfortably clear Bellerin's cross. Instead, the defender air-kicks and Kolasniac is on hand to thump home from close range.
- 47' - Chance, Arsenal: Arsenal have a chance to level the match and surely put the tie to bed but Welbeck's effort lacks conviction and is easily cleared.
- 61' - Chance, Arsenal: Elneny charges into space and forces Keita into a smart save with a rising drive from 25 yards.
- 68' - Chance, Arsenal: Danny Welbeck squanders a good chance, tamely heading Iwobi's dinked cross straight at Keita from 6 yards out.
- 83' - Chance, Ostersund: Islamovic turns a lovely Ghoddos cross a few inches wide of the far corner.
- 89' - Chance, Arsenal: Arsenal have a three-on-one with Welbeck in possession and, although he skips inside the defender, goalkeeper Keita is equally to his low shot.
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