With just two games to go in the Europa League this season, all Arsenal needed to do was at least draw this penultimate game. Seems like an easy task doesn’t it?
However, this is Arsenal and our ‘second’ team is by no means anywhere near the standard of the first team. We have used a similar side in the other games in this competition and have done well but last night proved to be a step too far for our young and fringe players.
Wenger made 11 changes to the side that won the North London derby with Ospina coming back from injury in goal. Chambers was put in at right wing back which I thought was a big risk as he’s never played there before and he had only just come back from injury himself. Welbeck also returned to the team and made up the front three alongside Wilshere and Giroud who was back from injury as well (everyone seems to be at the moment!)
So our new look side which wasn’t too different to the other games were against German side Cologne (who we beat 3-1 at home) and they were currently bottom of the Bundesliga without a win this season! Surely that meant that even we couldn’t lose to them and get the job done?
Despite their lack of form this season, the Cologne fans generated a lot of noise which always makes it intimidating to play in for the away team especially our youngsters who won’t have experienced it.
We were definitely the better side at the start of the game and could have scored within the first few minutes when Maitland-Niles (who was arguably our best player throughout) had a close range shot saved by Cologne keeper Horn. Our keeper, Ospina then had to keep us in the game with a good save to deny their striker Cordoba (who I remembered from the reverse fixture and he scored their goal).
Coquelin then came very close for us twice, first from a long range strike which just went wide and then he rattled the frame if the Cologne goal. He still hasn’t scored a goal for us but this is possibly the closest he’s ever come.
It ended 0-0 at half time and it was a game that lacked quality and chances. We looked the more likely team to score and Welbeck in particular was getting into good positions but there was no end product. Welbeck actually only played the first half as Wenger replaced him with Iwobi who definitely had the ability to change the game or at least make it more exciting!
The second half proved to be no different though as neither side could really create clear cut chances and it needed a big decision to change the game. This is exactly what happened as unfortunately we gave away a penalty with just under 30 minutes left. It was a very soft penalty to concede and perhaps harsh on us but it was given after Debuchy was accused of fouling Guirassy who made no mistake from the spot.
So we surpringly found ourselves 1-0 in a game we only needed to draw. Captain Mertesacker nearly got us an equaliser straight away but Horn made a great save off the line before denying Wilshere with another quality save.
Wenger tried to change the game by bringing on youngsters Nelson (who should have started as he has done in the other games) and Carabao cup hero Nketiah. They both had late chances to score as well as Wilshere but he was denied by Horn once again and Cologne managed to hold on to an important win for them as it means they still have a chance to qualify.
So a 1-0 defeat and our first loss in the Europa League this season. We still ended up topping our group though as the other game in the group finished 0-0 so it didn’t really matter in the end. It was probably one of the worst games I have ever seen but I feel more sorry for the Arsenal fans who travelled there (except DT!)
Next up for us in the Europa League is Bate Borisov at home early next month which is now a completely meaningless last game in the group. We will still want to win it though and it will give our youngsters more experience. It will also give other players a chance to show why they should be in the first team which is something none of them did last night!
Our next match is Burnley away on Sunday in the league and it is a big game that we have to win really to stay in the race for top four. At least our first team is rested now and they also have another league game against Huddersfield on Wednesday.
Will we beat a Burnley side who have done pretty well this season and have the same points as us? Will the first team players show that Wenger was right to rest them all and will the front three of Ozil, Sanchez and Lacazette continue to perform together and get us the all important win?
Boy in Brazil 2014 
Interesting to read as I didn’t watch the match.