Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side produced a ‘complete team performance’ against Olympiacos on Wednesday, as they booked their place in the Champions League knockout stage.
The Gunners went into the match at the Karaiskakis Stadium knowing that they had to win by two clear goals to book their place in the last 16 of the competition at the expense of the Greek side.
A hat-trick from forward Olivier Giroud helped the north London club to achieve that feat and after the match Wenger admitted he was delighted Arsenal put their bad start to the Champions League behind them.
He said: “We had the perfect game. Nine times out of 10 you are out [after such a poor start] and we needed something special and we needed a complete team performance, and it was.”
The Gunners have now reached the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition in every season since the 1999-2000 campaign and the Frenchman was quick to praise them.
He added: “I’m proud of the consistency because it demands a lot of effort every day and that’s what it’s about. We have escaped and maybe it’s a lucky year for us in the Champions League.”
Arsenal’s best ever showing in the competition came when they reached the final in 2006, but they have failed to make it beyond the last-16 stage for five seasons.
Wenger’s side, who are available at 21.00 to win the Champions League, will find out their last-16 opponents when the draw is made on Monday.
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