Hector Bellerin has confirmed what pretty much all Arsenal fans suspected after being dumped out of the Champions League by Monaco earlier in the month – they took the Ligue 1 side too lightly.
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When the draw was made for the knockout stages it appeared this represented Arsenal’s best chance of reaching the quarter-finals in Europe in recent years, with many dismissing Monaco’s chances.
But the French side caused a major shock by winning 3-1 at the Emirates in the first leg last month, taking full advantage of a poor defensive display from the home side on the night.
That result left Arsene Wenger’s team needing to become the first side to overcome a two-goal deficit in the competition’s format in order to progress, and despite a spirited second leg performance in a 2-0 win at the Stade Louis II this was not enough to prevent them from crashing out at the round of 16 stage for the fifth successive season.
Bellerin, who started both games, admits they got what they deserved:
“In the Champions League maybe we should have done things better.” the defender told the Spanish publication Marca (via Express)
“Perhaps we underestimated Monaco.” he added.
The youngster has been rewarded for a run of consistent performances for the Gunners since the turn of the year by being called into the Spain under-21 squad for the first time in his career.