This gives Arsenal a mountain to climb
We saw about as Arsenal a performance as one could even imagine on Thursday night, as the Gunners took the lead, went down to 10 men, relinquished their lead and then fell behind thanks to a farcical own goal.
The result is not a truly awful one as Unai Emery’s side still return to London with an away goal in their back pockets. Playing the way they did in France on Thursday however and they’ll be lucky to make it through to the next round of the Europa League.
Arsenal were actually impressive prior to the sending off of Sokratis for a second yellow card, but afterwards the one man advantage that the home side possessed was obvious for all to see.
Rennes took the lead thanks to a rather fortuitous and very funny own goal courtesy of Nacho Monreal, and sealed their victory through a late goal from Sarr, but the goal of the game came from Benjamin Bourigeaud.
The free-kick was given for a foul on Sarr, for which Arsenal’s Greek defender received his marching orders, and initially it looked like a very damp squib.
Bourigeaud struck it, but it hit the wall. It had barely bounced once however before he ran onto it and unleashed an absolute thunderbastard past Petr Cech in the Arsenal goal.
Cech had no chance, as the shot was hit with such venom that even in slow motion it looked to be going at breakneck speed.
It was a goal worthy of any contest, and leaves Arsenal in a very, very tricky position.
WHAT. A. HIT! 💥
Benjamin Bourigeaud got a second bite at the cherry and it absolutely flew into the top corner!
A double blow for Arsenal after Sokratis was given his marching orders 👀 pic.twitter.com/ur2hE921hp
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 7, 2019
