Laurent Koscielny defies belief by insisting Arsenal’s Champions League dream is not over after 5-1 Bayern hammering
Gunners defender was subbed early in the second half but said 'you never know' when asked about chance of advancing
LAURENT KOSCIELNY has defied belief by insisting Arsenal's Champions League dream is not over.
The Gunners defender was subbed off early in the second-half with the score 1-1 at the Allianz.
But then goals from Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and a brace from Thiago Alcantara meant Arsene Wenger's side are all but certain to crash out at the last-16 stage for the seventh year in a row.
Yet Frenchman Koscielny insists there is still a chance they can overturn the deficit in the return leg.
Asked if the tie is over, he said: "In football, you never know. We are professional, we have a second leg and we will try to win.
"But after a game like this it's very difficult. But we'll fight because we are professional and we play for Arsenal."
The Frenchman was at a loss, however, when quizzed on what made his side collapse entirely.
Asked what went wrong, he replied: "I don't know. I think the first half was good - we were deep like you need to be, and tried not to give them space or opportunities to score.
"It being 1-1 at half-time was good for us but after we conceded the second goal, I think we needed to stay more compact because we had a second leg at home.
"When you can win, you need to stay together, defend together with all 11 players and keep this. We didn't.
"Bayern played very well - they have some top-class players who can make the difference in front.
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"It’s difficult because during a game like this against a team like this, you need to play together, to have a good spirit and to push yourself for your team-mates.
"When you’re sitting on the bench in the second half, it’s difficult. In the first half we did the job and in the second half with their quality it was more difficult."