Arsel crash out of Champions League

Moco, March 18: Arsene Wenger’s Arsel claimed a 2-0 victory at Moco but still crashed out of the Champions League on away goals with a 3-3 aggregate result.

It was the fifth straight season for the Premier League side to miss the quarterfils. Ligue 1 runners-up Moco clinched a 3-1 win on February 25 in London with the ‘Gunners’ having conceded the third goal unnecessarily, reports Xinhua.

In Tuesday’s second leg, Arsel started slow with the hosts looking more urgent. Olivier Giroud, who headed a difficult chance wide in the 14th minute, ran on to a Danny Welbeck through ball in the 36th minute and his first shot was saved before the French intertiol smashed the rebound into the top of the net.

In the 79th minute, midfielder Aaron Ramsey scored the second for Arsel after Theo Walcott hit the post and a loose ball from the rival defenders found the youngster.

Giroud could have given the visitors a life-line shortly after but his header was incredibly clawed off the line.

With Arsel players lumping the ball into the Moco pelty box, a route having been well defended all game, the visitors failed to use the remaining 10 minutes and the five-minute stoppage, constructively.

Arsel defender Per Mertesacker admitted the better team over two legs went through.

“Moco deserved it because they played much better in the first leg. We played well today but it was a massive deficit and it wasn’t enough tonight,” he said. (IANS)