#5 Lack of discipline cost the Gunners
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Arsenal fans can throw daggers at the official behind the goals all week long, but the simple fact of the matter is that Koscielny made no attempt to play the ball and as a defender that should always be his main priority, especially when a world-class player of Lewandowski’s quality is bearing down on your goalkeeper.
The 31-year-old France international could, and should, have positioned himself better for a challenge, but opted instead to push his man out of the way in plain sight of the officials and there can be no argument that it was most definitely a penalty caused by poor discipline.
Koscielny wasn’t the only player guilty of losing his head, though, as Hector Bellerin’s passing was suspect at best on the night. On a number of occasions, the Spanish full-back made the wrong choice in possession, and that too often at crucial junctures of the contest.
However, it was definitely the defence which should hang their heads in shame after a result and performance of this embarrassing stature. Quite frankly, they gave up when the penalty flew in and played without heart, determination or pride after that because even with a single-player deficit they could have organised themselves better, made more of a contest out of proceedings and tried harder. But they didn’t and all but threw in the towel.
Without question, it’s the players, and not the scapegoated manager, who should be blamed for this exit and underwhelming showing.
