Champions League – Napoli 2 Arsenal 0

Published: 12 December, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

PER Mertesacker admitted Arsenal were “lucky” to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League last night (Wednesday) but insisted the club deserved their place in the knockout stages.

The Gunners progressed to the second phase of Europe’s premier club competition for a 14th successive season despite suffering a 2-0 defeat away at Napoli.

A miserable night for the north Londoners also saw Mikel Arteta sent off for two bookable offences.

Arsenal went into the game knowing that they just needed to avoid a 3-0 defeat in Italy to qualify for the next round, and Mertesacker believes it was because his side didn’t have to push forward in search of a goal that they put in a subdued performance.

“You give 10 per cent less mentally because you always think, we  are through,” added the towering German defender. “I think we were lucky but we deserved our luck because we played well in the group stage.

“Now we’ll just concentrate on the draw.”

When the relief of reaching the last 16 fades, however, Arsenal fans might not feel so lucky.

The results on the night meant that Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and Napoli all finished on 12 points, with the Germans topping Group F courtesy of their better head-to-head record over Arsene Wenger’s side.

It means that the Gunners will now face either holders Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris St Germain or Atletico Madrid in Monday’s draw for the last 16.