Arsenal 0 Schalke 2:
Arsene Wenger should brace himself for a stormy AGM on Thursday with shareholders surely furious after watching Arsenal outplayed by a hugely impressive Schalke side.
These supporters have become accustomed to seeing a Dutchman with three initials score at the Emirates. But on Wednesday night it was not RVP making them smile but rather Klaas-Jan Huntelaar prompting frowns with his 76th-minute opener.
Countryman Ibrahim Afellay then added a late second to condemn Arsenal to their first home Champions League group defeat since 2006 and Wenger looked shellshocked sitting next to Ivan Gazidis in the directors box as he served the final match of his touchline ban.
Taking the lead: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar celebrates after scoring the opening goal
Match facts
Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson (Gnabry 82), Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Andre Santos, Ramsey, Coquelin, Arteta, Podolski (Arshavin 82), Cazorla, Gervinho (Giroud 75).
Subs Not Used: Shea, Koscielny, Djourou, Chamakh.
Booked: Vermaelen, Arteta, Ramsey, Gervinho.
Schalke 04: Unnerstall, Uchida, Howedes, Matip, Fuchs, Hoger (Jones 46), Neustadter, Holtby (Barnetta 65), Afellay, Farfan, Huntelaar (Marica 87).
Subs Not Used: Hildebrand, Moritz, Draxler, Kolasinac.
Booked: Afellay, Hoger.
Goals: Huntelaar 76, Afellay 86.
Attendnace: 60,049
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
The pair, together with majority shareholder Stan Kroenke who was in attendance, are likely to be wearing similar expressions on Thursday when they face disgruntled supporters who fear an eighth season without silverware.
The impending return of Jack Wilshere is reason to be cheerful — and Wenger will be clinging to that thought as he prepares to face the fans on Thursday. The Frenchman’s assistant Steve Bould said: ‘Jack and Alex [Oxlade-Chamberlain] might be involved against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. And one or two might need freshening up. It looks like we are lacking a bit of confidence at the moment.
‘We look jaded — but I don’t know why that is. The lack of chances we are creating is not something we are accustomed to. We are frustrated tonight because we haven’t played anything like we can.’
Wenger wanted answers after his side’s sorry defeat at Norwich but only got more questions here as his side booed off. And all this after going into Wednesday night’s encounter knowing victory would virtually assure qualification for the Champions League knockout stage for an incredible 13th successive year.
Wenger sprung a selection surprise by handing 21-year-old midfielder Francis Coquelin a starting role. Striker Olivier Giroud was dropped to the bench and Gervinho tasked with being the lone man up front.
On its way: Huntelaar fires his effort towards goal
Despair: Mikel Arteta reacts to Arsenal going behind
Schalke boss Huub Stevens started with a formidable attacking quartet of Lewis Holtby, Afellay, Jefferson Farfan and Huntelaar.
And the visitors could easily have been awarded a 15th-minute penalty when Afellay, who Wenger tried to sign over the summer, went to ground after a clumsy challenge from underfire Gunners keeper Vito Mannone.
But instead of pointing to the spot, Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson, booked the Dutchman for diving, when replays showed the Italian had made contact.
Sneaking in: Ibrahim Afellay scores the second for Schalke
Dreamland: Afellay celebrates his goal
Arsenal had their first sight of goal in the 23rd minute and inevitably it was Spanish playmaker Santi Cazorla who orchestrated the move.
Under pressure in midfield, the Spaniard somehow conjured up a fantastic through pass to send Gervinho through.
Feeling the force: Carl Jenkinson is tackled by Lewis Holtby
Race for the ball: Lukas Podolski and Marco Hoger chase the ball
But with time to test goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall, the Ivorian cut inside defender Benedikt Howedes, allowing the Schalke skipper to make a timely interception. Groans of frustration echoed around the Emirates.
Per Mertesacker threw his considerable frame in the way of Farfan’s goalbound strike on 32 minutes as the Gunners continued to live dangerously.
Going down: Ibrahim Afellay goes down in the penalty area
Get up: Afellay appeals for a penalty but is booked for diving
Huntelaar then had the ball in the net but his close-range effort was ruled out for offside before Arsenal were let off the hook again when Atsuto Uchida was allowed the freedom of Arsenal’s left-hand side before picking out Huntelaar, who somehow shot wide from six yards.
Howedes missed a glorious chance four minutes into the second period when Farfan, who had bamboozled Andre Santos down the right, teed up the defender to blast over the bar from eight yards.
Tough battle: Francis Coquelin is tackled by Marco Hoeger
High jump: Coquelin goes airbourne as he is tackled by Hoeger
Arsenal’s frustration was illustrated when Gervinho was booked for a dive as he tried to win a penalty before he was was replaced by Giroud with 15 minutes left.
If Bould had visions of pushing for a late winner, he was quickly disappointed as the Germans took a deserved lead. Huntelaar was left unmarked as Afellay’s header bounced between Thomas Vermaelen and Mertesacker, and the Holland striker hammered the ball past Mannone.
Arsenal had no answer and Schalke made it 2-0 when Farfan crossed low from the right and Afellay tapped in at the far post.
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