Arsenal vs Shaktar 1-2 Reaction

Yesterday November 3 Shakhtar played against Arsenal and they won 2-1 which was a shock win. I started with Shakhtar Coach Mircea Lucescu came out and said that he expected the win and that he was not shocked. This is what he had to say:

"It is a very important victory, one which I expected," Lucescu told UEFA.com. "I said before the game that the result in London would have no bearing and that was borne out. 

"We played well in the first half, other than for [Theo] Walcott's goal. It was difficult to cope with his pace.

"I liked the players' reaction: they responded immediately and did not take their foot off the gas even when we squandered three or four chances. We utilised the counterattack more in the second period, but still we were far more dangerous than Arsenal. 

"We needed the points, but the most important thing today was to demonstrate that we are not the team that struggled in London: we are on a par with Arsenal.

"Nothing is decided yet in our group: we just need to play like we did today in the last two games," he concluded.

This guy proved a point that Shakhtar is not any sucky team and it is able to defeat a big team like Arsenal. Arsene Wenger said that his team was punished because they lost concentration. This is what he had to say:

“We had a good start and after we became too easy, and then we were punished, against a good team you are punished,” Wenger told Sky Sports.

“It’s a good lesson for us tonight because we thought we’d get through without putting 100% focus on every defensive situation and then in the second half we gave a lot to come back into the game but we were a bit unlucky in the finishing and they were intelligent as well and that explains after that it was difficult to come back.

“We had the chances but we couldn’t take them. Overall, I believe we have learned that even if you give a lot, if you are not focussed for 90 minutes  you don’t win at that level.

“We were 1-0 up and comfortable and slowly we dropped our urgency and we were punished because they have good players, and you see that especially on the crosses, nobody attacks the ball and they created chances from that.”

Wenger was questioned about whether Gael Clichy was to blame for Shakhtar’s second goal, but the Frenchman didn’t give much away.

“I don’t know if it was a lack of focus but he was first on the ball, it’s difficult to explain. I haven’t talked to him about it yet.”

The Gunners boss also said that he thought his side were unlucky in the run up to Shakhtar’s first goal, but still criticised his team for failing to deal with the free-kick.

“Yes, but that’s a decision for the referee. We still have to deal better with the free-kick.”

The Walcott’s first half goal was one of the few positives for the Gunners, but Wenger seemed unimpressed by the move, instead insisting that none of his players played well tonight.

“Well I don’t want to speak about any individual performance because nobody was individually outstanding tonight.”

Even when he was pushed about the quality of the goal, the Frenchman remained downbeat.

“It was a good goal, but we play to win the games, you know.”

Wenger also emphasised that the loss represented a missed chance to qualify for the next stage and criticised his side’s lack of maturity for surrendering their first half lead.

“It is a missed opportunity of course. Especially if we get away with a draw we are there nearly. So the most difficult thing in a game is to score the first goal, what we did, and then I believe it’s a lack of maturity not to focus 100% to make sure. We are caught just before half-time and then you give a lot, but it’s just the story of the game. It’s just, it’s football.”

When questioned as to whether previous poor results in the Ukraine had led to his side going into the clash with a mental disadvantage, the Frenchman dismissed the idea, instead insisting that it was a lack of concentration that saw them come up short.

“No you don’t play with memory, you play with the performance of the day and we had twenty minutes today where we were not completely sharp and we were punished.”

This is not from my head and it is an article by Goal.com.
Theo Walcott also came out and talked about how poor they were in defense and this is what he had to say about the game:

“It’s a tough place to come to and they have a very good home record,” Walcott told Sky Sports.

“The early goal was very important for us but going in 2-1 down, it could have been more for them.

“We didn’t defend well and if they took more of their chances they could have scored more goals.

“But in the second half we did show at times that we could win the game but it just wasn’t meant to be.

“You want to get the early goal to shut up their fans and we managed to do that but the next five minutes was very important, but when they took one back it was due to poor defence on our part.  But they are a very good team.”

Walcott was talking about how he scored

“I just thought the keeper wasn’t set right and just took him by surprise and I took myself by surprise as well," he continued.

“It’s just one of those things I have been practicing and it has paid off well."

Walcott still believes that even though they lost they can make it. 

“But the goal doesn’t mean anything tonight as we was just trying to get that win.

“We didn’t do that but we are still in a strong position and are still top so there is a lot to play for."

Walcott also talked that now he moved on and they can play better in the next match.

“That’s the great thing about football, the games come around thick and fast," he added.

“I’m ready for Sunday and hopefully it can be a very good win for us.”

That was all for the reactions to this game and do not forget there is other reactions too so TUNE IN!