EUR OUT OF IT GUNNERS

Greeks strike late to end Mikel dream

THE HONEYMOON Mikel Arteta. is over for

Youssef El Arabi’s last-gasp strike for Olympiakos made sure of that, sending Arsenal crashing out of the Europa League in the cruellest way possible.

It looked so much like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would save Arteta when the Gunners skipper struck a spectacular overhead kick in extra-time.

That cancelled out Pape Abou Cisse’s opener for the visitors and put Arsenal back in front in the tie.

But even after El Arabi’s crucial away goal, Aubameyang then missed a sitter.

In truth this was a horrible, abject performance from Arsenal. It got what it deserved.

Leading 1-0 from the first leg after Alexandre Lacazette’s winner in Greece, Arteta took no chances. This was as strong a line-up as he could possibly have fielded.

Olympiakos are top of the Greek league but they had only managed one win in 12 European knockout matches before kick-off.

So few inside the Emirates gave them much hope of coming from behind to cause an upset, and Nicolas Pepe fired a

AET: 0-1 90 MINS. 2-2 ON AGG OLYMPIAKOS WIN ON AWAY GOALS warning shot with an early free kick. Lacazette then thought he had scored but Bukayo Saka was rightly judged offside from Granit Xhaka’s pass.

But it was pretty uninspiring stuff with the visitors offering little threat and many of the home fans only too happy to nip out for a cuppa well before the half-time whistle blew.

And then, finally, a breakthrough. But when it came it was Olympiakos who got it, Arsenal allowing Cisse a free header from a corner.

But Arsenal carried on looking strangely lethargic. The Greek side looked the more likely team to score again and Bernd Leno was at full stretch to keep out Konstantinos Tsimikas.

Only then did Arsenal come alive, with Pepe’s shot saved and Lacazette’s followup header wide. He should have done better. The Frenchman was wasteful again shortly after, and sub Lucas Torreira failed to work visiting keeper Jose Sa too much either with a shot.

David Luiz headed over from a corner as the game swung from end to end with time running out, but there were plenty of nervous moments for the home side.

And Arteta just looked relieved to hear the final whistle.

Bruno Gaspar had the chance to win it for the visitors just before halftime in extra-time but blazed his shot way over the bar.

But with eight minutes to go, Aubemyang struck. He had a lot to do from Mesut Ozil’s half-cleared cross, smashing home a sensational overhead kick, but it just made El Arabi’s late, late strike from a Masouras cross the cruellest of twists.

THE DRAW for the last-16 takes place at noon today with the games scheduled for March 12 and 19.