Arsene Wenger praises “special” Champions League progression

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has praised his side after the Gunners confirmed their progression to the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Olympiacos this evening.

Wenger’s team recovered from three Group F defeats to finish second, ahead of their Greek opponents thanks to their performances head-to-head, and the 66-year-old believes that his team deserve credit for a “special” comeback in the tournament.

“I’m very proud of the team because we need to be right on the mental side, on the tactical side as well,” Wenger told BT Sport. “At 2-0 we needed to push for a third goal – it was very dangerous to stay at 2-0 – and we had, in the end, the perfect game. “We needed something something special to comeback, and we did it.

Tonight we needed a complete team performance, which it was. This team is really a team, and they showed it again tonight. “If you look at the players who were out today, and the kind of performance we produced, it’s absolutely outstanding.

I would like to pay a tribute to those who weren’t there tonight, and those who came in and did well.”

Arsenal will find out who their opponents will be in the last 16 on Monday, December 14.