German defender Per Mertesacker has stressed that Arsenal are not giving up their hopes in their Champions League last 16 tie even after suffering a heavy home defeat against Monaco last night.
A 3-1 loss at the Emirates Stadium means Arsenal are now again facing the prospect of another exit from Europe’s elite club competition in the first knockout round.
Arsenal now have to score at least three goals and keep a clean sheet at the Stade Louis II next month against a Monaco side who are known for the defensive resolve and frugality; they conceded the fewest goals of any team in the group stage.
Even though the odds are stacked against them, Mertesacker is still hopeful that the Gunners can turn the tie around at Monaco next month. The defender admits that they are not the favourites in the tie anymore, but he stressed a lot can happen if Arsenal are on the money in the second leg.
“We never give up”, the defender told Arsenal Player.
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“That’s always the sense of our game, even if the expectations will be low now. It’s easy to write us off now, but it’s just half-time. A lot of things can happen over there and we will try.
“As we have seen we have been remarkable at bouncing back from disappointing results.”
The German international stressed that Arsenal will have to show resolve and fight on the front foot at Monaco to put the home side under pressure in the tie again.
“That will be the key – to be absolutely brave and try to be on the front foot from the start to the end. There are still 90 minutes to play.
“That is our big target there.”
Though they still exited the competition in the last 16, Arsenal did manage to salvage a 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich after suffering a 2-0 home defeat last season.
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